The government’s strained relationship with the Civil Service is a recurring story
at the moment. Much of the disquiet seems to be the normal tit for tat exchanges immortalised in Yes Minister. In the main, ministers and their advisors express high regard for their officials.
But there are some resilient bones of contention between the government and its lawyers. Again, this is not unusual. When Gordon Brown was Chancellor, parliamentary counsel were exasperated by his inability to take decisions. Brown’s budgetary machinations were finalised in a predictably mad rush, which incensed those who had to amend the bill hours before it was put to parliament.
However, the growing volume of European and International law is deepening the divide between those who make laws and those who interpret them. This morning’s Independent reports that government lawyers advise that training or assisting the Libyan rebels is illegal.
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