Brown unveils support for civil servants facing the axe

Gordon Brown today moved to head off a backbench rebellion by announcing additional support for the 84,000 civil servants facing the axe.

The Chancellor promised a "new deal" for the Whitehall staff he is planning to cull as part of a ?20 billion-a-year efficiency programme.

The package was unveiled to MPs after Labour backbenchers and unions stepped up their criticism over the

scale of the cuts. Mr Brown

told the Treasury select committee he had not "left people isolated and unable to cope or ignored" and promised there would be no more job cuts.

He said a new service would provide redundant staff with details of vacancies. They will also get free careers advice.

Union leaders have warned of possible strikes if Mr Brown presses ahead with the cuts.