Time for Sir Humphrey to retire

The British government is 99.9999999 percent staffed by apolitical Civil Servants with the statistically irrelevant remainder being political appointees. The Sir Humphreys, rather than being pushed around, are very much in charge. Too much in charge.

Ministers get only two Special Advisers – or SpAds – each who are placed away from the Minister’s office and in the beginning of the Government’s term often had to fight to even join meetings with their bosses. Some are knowledgeable experts other researchers with little experience beyond a few years in an MPs office.

In what looks like a partisan broadcast from Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell, Rachel Sylvester in The Times (£) says “Civil servants can help think through and implement policy in an ordered way.” I agree – having worked with many impressive officials in London, Washington, Baghdad and Kabul.