Cameron’s ill-advised spat with Sir Humphrey

David Cameron’s assertion in his spring conference speech that his officials are “enemies of enterprise” has aggravated the Sir Humphreys of this world. Paul Waugh, Ben Brogan and James Kirkup all have excellent spin-offs from Sue Cameron’s account of the smouldering atmosphere at a recent meeting of permanent secretaries. And Iain Martin puts it succinctly on Twitter:

‘Duff politics attacking civil service, down the ages a lazy excuse for ministers not mastering their depts.’

Beyond Iain’s point about inept ministers, this incident also seems typical of Number 10’s frequently faulty communications strategy, which so exasperates departmental special advisors. Attacking senior civil servants is ‘courageous’ to say the least, especially when the government is intent on delivering manifold reforms at once.

It’s also a reminder of how divisive Cameron and his immediate circle can be, recalling their sometimes voluble contempt for underperforming ministers and the leadership’s often sour relations with the backbenches.