The Sir Humphreys are sabotaging elected ministers

THE SUE GRAY scandal has brought Civil Service impartiality into sharp focus. One of the most senior civil servants trusted with the sensitive internal workings of a Conservative government jumped ship to work as the closest aide to the Labour Leader of the Opposition.

- Liam Fox MP

A damning official Cabinet Office inquiry found she breached impartiality rules and could have been sacked had she not quit.

Meanwhile, asylum approval rates are 72 per cent, despite ministers making it clear there should be rigorous application of the rules. France, by comparison, has a 25 per cent success rate.

Home Office civil service union members openly oppose the Government’s immigration plans and now former department chief Emma Haddad will take up a post at Amnesty International, which called Rishi Sunak’s Migrant Act “inhumane, racist and divisive”.

Stories are legion across Whitehall about the resistance put up to thwart the democratic decision to leave the EU.

Allegations of bullying have, for some reason, been focused on ministers most associated with Brexit and pursuing some of the most controversial government policies.

Cumulatively, all of this has harmed the relationship between ministers and civil servants.

The fact the law requires civil servants to “carry out their duties for the assistance of the administration whatever its political complexion” suggests it is not working properly and needs to be changed.

Can you imagine working in a company where the CEO couldn’t sack the finance officer? That is the position in government.