Conservative Party Chairman, Greg Hands, has apologised for an email sent on behalf of the Home Secretary, which attacked civil servants as part of an 'activist blob'.
The email accused Whitehall officials of trying to block the small boats crackdown, along with Labour and 'left-wing lawyers', sparking outrage amongst unions.
Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, said the government had taken swift action to address the error and assured the union that procedures in Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) will be changed to avoid a repeat of the incident.
Conservative Party chairman, Greg Hands, has apologised for an email sent on behalf of Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, which criticised civil servants.
The email, which accused Whitehall officials of attempting to block the small boats crackdown, was sent to Tory members, sparking outrage amongst unions.
Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, said the government had taken swift action to apologise for the error and said he had spoken to Hands, who takes the mistake 'incredibly seriously'.
He assured the PCS union, which represents government staff, that procedures in Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) would be changed to avoid a repeat of the incident.
The attack on civil servants in the email has been widely condemned, with many accusing the government of undermining the independence of the civil service.
However, supporters of the government's stance on small boat crossings have come to their defence.
One Tory MP, Andrew Bridgen, said: "It's unsurprising that there are some civil servants who think they know better than elected politicians''.
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, called the email "an extraordinary and unacceptable attack on civil servants".
Unions representing civil servants echoed this sentiment, with Public and Commercial Services Union general secretary, Mark Serwotka, stating: "We will not tolerate insults and threats to our members."
The incident has also raised questions about the relationship between ministers and civil servants.
Whilst it is widely understood that civil servants are expected to provide impartial advice, some have criticised the perceived politicisation of the civil service, with ministers increasingly insisting that they have the final say over important decisions.
Writing in The Guardian, former civil servant Sir David Normington criticised the government for "undermining" the civil service, stating that the attack on officials was "a shot across the bows, showing who's boss."