Time For A Cull At The Treasury?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44407771
Looks like many civil servants are the enemy within. Why do these people think they can thwart the democratic will of the majority.

[Gromit]

The Conservative Government is in charge of all Departments

The Treasury is led by Phillip Hammond who was elected by 60% of voters in his constituency and who has an 18,000 majority.

The Civil Servants under him have to obey his leadership. You xan’t really blame them for carrying out their boss’ orders.

[bednobs]

Surely he means Phillip Hammond?

[bednobs]

Snap!

[Old_Geezer]

Boris made a lot of sense. But ministers can disagree with each other.

For example one might only be interested in short term avoidance of disruption for financial reasons whilst they are in position, whilst another might be more concerned with the long term status of their nation and trying to boost it's potential once more.

[Old_Geezer]

Ministers are supposed to lead their ministry. It's no foul to refer to the ministry when the minister's views are questioned.

[ToraToraTora]

yes the government is "in charge" gromit but when you are full of VB EUSSR sympathisers how difficult is it to get them to do something they don't agree with? They'll drag their feet at every opportunity and sabotage where possible so they can say na na nana na, we told you so, their own deluded opinion is more important that the good of the nation.

[Jackdaw33]

I agree. Hammond should be the first to go, swiftly followed by May. I have never been so disappointed in Tory government since the days of Heath.

[ToraToraTora]

agreee JD, you cannot extricate yourself from something when half the team doing it doesn't want to. We need a predominately brexiteer cabinet.

[youngmafbog]

Totally agree JD.

"The Treasury is led by Phillip Hammond who was elected by 60% of voters in his constituency and who has an 18,000 majority. "

That does not necessarily translate into 100% support of him, many hold their nose and vote because the other options are even worse.

Done it myself a few times.

[ToraToraTora]

anyway his constituency support is irrelevant, we are talking about national interests here.

[dannyk13]

Because Philip Hammond lets them.It suits his purpose as a rabid remainer.

[Gromit]

You would sooner attack the foot soldiers, the civil servants, than the Tories leading them.

If Hammond is in charge then what he says should happen. If people in his department do not do as told they should be suspended or sacked.

But we all know (except Tora it seems) it is not the Civil Servants who Boris was attacking, it is his Conservative colleague, the Chancellor.

[Old_Geezer]

But we've watched Yes Minister.

[jim360]

Yes Minister is brilliant as a comedy but rubbish as a documentary. Civil Servants may advise the Minister that what they are proposing is difficult, or even impossible, but the instant that the Minister makes a decision, it is their job to implement it, and that's what they do. If you tell someone to do something that's very difficult, though, you can't subsequently blame them if they struggle to get it done.

This happens again and again. The new train timetables, that have been causing chaos, were a brainchild of the then Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. That they have gone horribly wrong was no surprise to his Department, but they did their best to deliver it according to his instructions anyway. Turns out that it went badly, as was predicted -- and no, this isn't a self-fulfilling prophecy either.

Same with Universal Credit, as with Brexit (or the current attempts to implement it). Civil Servants do as they are told to, whether they like it or not, and their own personal political beliefs have nothing to do with the way they carry out their roles.

End of.

[New Judge]

"The new train timetables, that have been causing chaos, were a brainchild of the then Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. That they have gone horribly wrong was no surprise to his Department, but they did their best to deliver it according to his instructions anyway."

Thus demonstrating perfectly why government ministers should not get involved with the day to day running of things outside their competence (i.e. almost everything). There are very few commercial activities that the government is capable of running successfully and the nation's railway system is not among them. I thought this was realised some time ago but there are still people around who insist on interfering in things that they have no business meddling in. Politicians should stick to what they do best - spending other people's money.

[gulliver1]

B/A for new judge , spot on.

[New Judge]

Gosh! Thanks Gulliver. Agreement at last! :-)