DAILY MAIL COMMENT: A dedicated minister stitched up by the Blob

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: A dedicated minister stitched up by the Blob

Yesterday the notion of a politically neutral civil service – committed to serving governments of all stripes without fear or favour – died.

It was a dark day for British democracy, which raises profound questions over how, and more importantly by whom, this country should be governed.

Who is truly in control? Is it ministers who are elected and accountable, or civil servants who are not? And if it’s the latter, do we really have democracy at all?

It has long been obvious that the Whitehall Blob despises the Tories for getting Brexit done and is sullenly obstructive to their plans for change.

But after forcing the resignation of Dominic Raab over trumped-up and politically motivated bullying charges, it’s starting to resemble a branch office of the Labour Party.

After the Whitehall Blob forced the resignation of Dominic Raab (pictured today) over trumped-up and politically motivated bullying charges, it’s starting to resemble a branch office of the Labour Party

This was a stitch-up from the start, with carefully choreographed and widely leaked allegations trickling in from civil servants at all three of Mr Raab’s previous departments. Some are more than four years old and none was formally raised with him at the time.

The report, which cost the Justice Secretary his job, is positively complimentary – almost admiring – in many respects. Adam Tolley KC paints a picture of a highly intelligent, public-spirited minister with a ferocious work ethic.

Typically grafting more than 14 hours a day, Mr Raab pays close attention to detail, is assiduous, decisive and guided by strong principles, Mr Tolley says. Yes, he could be demanding of others in a manner which is sometimes ‘inquisitorial and direct’.

But at no stage was he intentionally hurtful. He didn’t shout, didn’t swear and there was no evidence of him ever losing control or being malicious – unlike, say, Gordon Brown or Angela Rayner.

He became frustrated when he perceived ‘cultural resistance’ to policy reforms or sub-standard work. But who wouldn’t?

In a sane world, civil servants might have responded to Mr Raab’s Stakhanovite example by doing all they could to help him – that’s their job, after all. Instead they conspired to bring him down, and it’s to Rishi Sunak’s shame that he let them succeed.

Mr Raab was Mr Sunak’s chief supporter during his leadership bid. Yet the PM (pictured today with new Justice Secretary Alex Chalk) did nothing to save his man. Instead, he delivered a major scalp to his enemies on a plate.

The report makes clear that the initial ‘group complaint’ from the Ministry of Justice (which paved the way for all the others) was cobbled together by a ‘committee’ of malcontents, some of whom hadn’t even met him.

Even the two allegations said by Mr Tolley to constitute bullying seem entirely understandable. One was the removal of a diplomat judged to be undermining Brexit negotiations. The other was an occasion when Mr Raab was allegedly ‘intimidating and insulting’ to officials whose work he thought had been inadequate.

Anyone who has waited weeks for a new passport, driving licence or probate decision will identify with his exasperation. Indeed they may think he should have been more forceful.

Mr Raab was Mr Sunak’s chief supporter during his leadership bid. Yet the PM did nothing to save his man. Instead, he delivered a major scalp to his enemies on a plate.

In his resignation letter, Mr Raab sounds a stark warning. ‘In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry will encourage spurious complaints and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.’

He’s right. There are already bullying claims against ex-minister Alok Sharma and there will doubtless be more now there is blood in the water.

The word ‘broken’ is much overused. But it perfectly describes the relationship between an increasingly recalcitrant civil service and those they are paid to serve.

It is a schism which is rapidly making Britain ungovernable.

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