Another Downing Street exit

Sean Worth was one of the buccaneers of the Downing Street policy unit. But as the civil service began to take a hold of it, Worth was sent over to the Department of Health to help Andrew Lansley see the NHS reforms through. It was also thought that Worth, an expert on social care, would be able to help craft the Tory response to the Dilnott report.

But Worth is now leaving to go to the think-tank Policy Exchange. This suggests that any government action on social care is a long way-away.

Worth is just the latest in a growing list of Tory aides who have quit the government. Partly, this is a product of just how demanding these jobs are in terms of time and intellectual effort. But, some Tories fear that it also speaks of a lack of a sense of mission at the heart of government, a purpose that makes all the hours worthwhile.