Coalition and mandarins

[claig]

Have the mandarins had enough? We're only about 2 years in after 13 years of New Labour. I am starting to think the Tories may not get back in next time.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2190871/Mutinous-mandarins-plan-rebellion-Coalition-pledge-help-Labour-write-manifesto.html

I've not read the article (DM ban in this house I'm afraid) but as a former Mandarin I'm not sure it's quite as clear cut as civvies helping one party write it's manifesto. There are very clear rules about what civil servants are and aren't allowed to do in terms of both their personal politics and in talking with members of the opposition, particularly in the lead up to elections (local, national, European). The independence of the civil service is something people rightly take pride in.

In my experience of senior types they are well used to working under parties of different political hues, and as many will be conservative voters as labour. Where they might be getting ticked off is in being told that they are the problem, or increasing attempts to politicise the senior ranks.

Headline is misleading as it implies that civil servants would normally help write manifestos but can't this time (which would imply that the Tories had such help last time).

Typical spin! A non story.

Still, not like the DM to miss a chance to kick the civil service...

Interesting that the slant of the Mail article seems to have changed. It seems to have been toned down, because about 4 days ago, it had a headline something like "mutinous mandarins plan rebellion against Coalition..." and seemed to imply that some mandarins had had enough of Coalition squabbling and wanted to "help" Labour with their manifesto earlier next time.

It's not exactly unheard of for the Mail to lead with a more sensationalist version then once approached by press offices for organisations and others, tone it down ot be more accurate...

I think the original Mail article also mentioned that it had originally been a Telegraph article, but I couldn't find it by googling Telegraph etc.

The original article did make one wonder who creates policy and who calls the tune.

Mandarins tend to want to keep their jobs, and are adept at serving political masters of any hue. Look at Sir Humphrey for examples of how to be totally neutral by believing in nothing at all, and by being able to argue both sides of a case perfectly. Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister really ought be shown more often.

What is more interesting is the scope granted to "special advisers" to be placed within the Whitehall/Westminster machinery. This was a big change in the New Labour years, and I always felt it was indicative of Labour's inability to work with the administration - and lead to their legacy being style over substance and a series of very iffy judgements.

I'm not sure the current Govt is any better though. I think the country is sorely in need of people who can execute plans properly. Harnessing the skills of a functioning Whitehall before they vanish (which they will, in 10-15 years) would e a good place to start.

This is from the Telegraph a few months back. It mentions mandarins and special advisers. It seems that there have been some changes.

blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin1/100152249/no-wonder-top-civil-servants-wanted-a-coalition-it-increases-their-power/

Although, this may all be spin in a larger game

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2181882/Maude-aims-smash-civil-service-power-base-likely-provoke-row-public-sector-unions.html

I hadn't seen that piece before.

I don't think it reflects an "increase" in power to mandarins - more a return to the re-New Labou norm (which served Govts of all hues through the whole 20th century). Whether yo think that's a good think will depend on whether you see the actual running of things to be better done with an eye to whether it'll work properly for 10/15/20 years, what it will really cost over its lifetime and whether the actual administration's sound. Or if you just want to be seen to be active, don't consider long-term VFM (look at differences between early PFI and those of the 00s), don't care if it doesn't work as long as that's not discovered straightaway, and - for things like control orders - may actually be illegal (but we'll try introducing them anyhow and maybe the Courts won't catch up for a while).

I think a bit of administrative competence would make a refreshing change.

Spin in a larger game... Come on Claig. Admit the DM exaggerated as usual.

I think the story was originally broken in the Telegraph. It is possible that some Tories want to limit the power of some mandarins, and that may explain why we are seeing articles in right wing papers about mandarins being too powerful and even wanting to 'help' Labour with their policy and manifesto.

'Admit the DM exaggerated as usual'

The DM, if anything, is usually understated. It valiantly refuses to follow the ra ra brigade of newspapers that warn us that we have 50 days left to save the planet. It prefers to take a cool, calm, collected scientific look at the facts before giving its considered pronouncement on issues of the day.

" It prefers to take a cool, calm, collected scientific look at the facts before giving its considered pronouncement on issues of the day."

Stick a song on the end of that and you could do a summer season at Blackpool pier. LOL!