…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Two former Tory Cabinet ministers have defended the civil service after Dominic Raab, a former deputy prime minister, accused some civil servants of trying to block Government policy because they disagreed with it.
Lord Young of Cookham and Lord Fowler, who served in Margaret Thatcher and John Major’s ministries, praised the civil service for its “loyalty” and “exceptional advice”.
Lord Young added that civil servants were just doing their job by pointing out the adverse consequences of certain policy options.
He also hoped that any review of the complaints procedure would be debated in the House of Lords.
Lord Fowler added that it would be better to look at the quality of special advisers, who sometimes lack loyalty and do not give exceptional advice.
However, Lord Lilley, who served in Margaret Thatcher and John Major’s ministries, said that while he also had a good relationship with civil servants, some ministers “perceived” a reluctance to implement government policy.
He also suggested that such an approach was counterproductive, but it was up to the electorate or elected superiors to get rid of ministers who cannot deliver, not officials.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe, a Cabinet Office minister, said the civil service was vital to the work of the Government and the Government greatly valued the work of civil servants, who together with ministers were working to deliver for the British people.
She added that the Prime Minister had accepted the resignation of Raab, following the findings of Adam Tolley KC in a published exchange of letters.
Tolley upheld two bullying complaints against Raab.
The role of the civil service has been a contentious issue in UK politics in recent years, with some politicians and media outlets accusing civil servants of being unaccountable and obstructive to the Government’s agenda.
This debate has been amplified in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.
The comments by Young and Fowler may be seen as a defence of the civil service and a rejection of the notion that there is an organised conspiracy to frustrate the will of ministers.
On the other hand, Lilley’s comments suggest that some ministers still perceive a reluctance on the part of officials to implement government policy.
Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media