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Is Cressida Dick’s new Simon Case? The Civil Service has not been declared institutionally misogynistic, racist or homophobic. Neither is institutional corruption. But it’s not good to lead in the new year. Had Jeremy Heywood lived, he would have had serious questions to answer about the Greensill affair, although it is fair to note that he had good answers. Still, the whole episode doesn’t reflect anyone involved: not civil officials or politicians or banks all helping smooth opportunists without asking the hard questions. As you might have guessed, the reputation was damaged and many were lost.
We now have Simon Case – Cabinet Secretary from September 2020 – and in a number of senior roles before that. Despite his seemingly impressive CV and rapid rise to the top, he has not shone in his latest role. The Archangel Gabriel will not find it easy dealing with Johnson, let alone try to persuade him to keep some rules. Even so, Case has shown an amazing ability to get to the top and stay there while managing – so far – to avoid taking responsibility for some of his unintended mistakes. It was as if all his skills had been devoted to climbing greasy poles and holding them instead of doing the job he was supposed to do, efficiently and effectively. More like the person who raised him, actually. And like many other senior people who were never appointed or stayed too long and destroyed the institutions they were responsible for. Like Ms. Dick, for example. Or Ms Sturgeon. Or Ms. Spielman.
- Partygate.
- They cannot ensure that none of the 10 civil servants comply with the Covid rules.
- He himself broke the rules.
- He received from the investigation into Partygate until he realized – or has pointed out to someone – the conflict.
- His accusations against Sue Gray followed a report to Partygate.
- The current row is about the terms and timing of Sue Gray’s departure.
- The Downing Street wallpaper investigation.
- What he did or didn’t do in relation to the sacking of Tom Scholar by Liz Truss, a move that left the Treasury without experienced leadership and may have led to the financial hurricane caused by Truss.
- Richard Sharp’s appointment and whether Case did or did not advise Sharp about Johnson’s financial brokering role.
- His inability, according to reports to Sharp’s affairs, to remain accurate, clear, can be trusted minutes – ABC in the PNS toolbox, one would think.
- Poor relations between Ministers and civil servants.
- Management of disciplinary and complaints processes.
On and on and on.
Instead of being a calm person who is effective in removing or managing this difficult situation, Case appears to be a player in the story, but also absent when asserting his authority and finding a resolution. That’s the difficulty now. Whatever the truth of the story and the various accusations, the fact is that he is now part of the story and has lost the authority he once had. His judgment seems incorrect. A senior civil servant without authority or good judgment is, to borrow a phrase, “in office but not in power“. It was time for him to go.
The civil service is not perfect, by any means, but it is necessary for a good government (I know, a great idea!) Those who work in it and who are Ministers for whom they can work must have people at the top who have the judgment and tenacity necessary to manage difficult – but important – functions and relationships.
Was Case promoted too quickly, was he let down by an amoral and unreliable PM, was he overwhelmed by the demands of Covid on top of everything else, was he never the right person for the job, was he too focused. about managing your own career instead of achieving something real or a mix of all or some, it doesn’t matter now. He is no longer the right person. The longer he hangs on – or is allowed to hang on – in his current role the more damage is done. The PM needs better top advisers. Civil servants need better leaders. Voters need a significant portion of the country to function well. Politicians let Cressida Dick stay for a long time. All of these make decisions by inertia or “better the devil knows“The approach taken is to make the successor’s job more difficult than it needs to be. The PM should not make the same mistake again.
Cycle free
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