How can we take Sir Gus O’Donnell seriously when he wrote a book with Ed Balls?
James Forsyth 11:06am
The civil service must be impartial and seen to be impartial. So, there should surely be a rule that stops permanent secretaries co-authoring books with SpAds. Sir Gus O’Donnell’s decision to write Microeconomic Reform in Britain: Delivering Opportunities for All (note the highly political title) with Balls and another civil servant, the book has an introduction from Brown, makes it hard for the public to look upon him as an impartial arbiter.
Like my fellow reformist radical Fraser, I think there is a role for SPADs—indeed, I’d actually like more of them. But career civil servants must be impartial and be seen to be impartial. That doesn’t mean they should be obstructionist, or advocates of the status quo but they shouldn’t lend their name to things that are — or appear to be — political.
Previous
JGS
April 15th, 2009 11:25am Report this commentWhat in heaven's name have investigative journalists been doing, these past dozen years? Downing Street seems to be rotten to the core.
Steve.W
April 15th, 2009 11:37am Report this commentJames as you and Fraser Nelson want more SpAds perhaps you could explain why. As a mere voter I think that more SpAds will mean MPs will take less notice of people like me. The SpAd thingy sounds no more than an extension to the lobby machine, I thought there were problems with that, has it suddenly got better?
Mike, Brighton
April 15th, 2009 11:40am Report this commentThere should be many, many more political appointees to drive forward the radical reform agenda.
These appointees can and should be able to become cabinet ministers without the need for elevation to the house of lords. A greatly strengthened body of select committees should hold them democratically accountable.
Actually having a minister accountable who knows something of the area he or she leads would be revelatory.
Grunt
April 15th, 2009 12:06pm Report this commentNot very seriously at all appears to be the conclusion one may wish to reach after careful and considered judgment.
Next.
Charlie
April 15th, 2009 12:09pm Report this commentAnyone listening to Ed Balls being interviwed on the Today programme this morning cannot but have been struck by his Damascene conversion: From McBride cheerleader to the modern equivalent of Capt Renault in "Casablanca" who at one point is "Shocked, shocked to learn that Gambling is going on in this establishment" ("Here are your winnings, Sir").
The thoroughly nauseating hypocrisy of this man had to be heard to be believed......to think that this man once had hopes of leading the Labour Party.
Charlie
April 15th, 2009 12:14pm Report this commentAnyone listening to Ed Balls being interviwed on the Today programme this morning cannot but have been struck by his Damascene conversion: From McBride cheerleader to the modern equivalent of Capt Renault in "Casablanca" who at one point is "Shocked, shocked to learn that Gambling is going on in this establishment" ("Here are your winnings, Sir").
The thoroughly nauseating hypocrisy of this man had to be heard to be believed......to think that this man once had hopes of leading the Labour Party.
Trumpeter Lanfried
April 15th, 2009 12:24pm Report this commentI can also recommend: 'Brain surgery' by Ken Dodd, 'Football management' by Ron Knee and 'Criminal Detection' by Inspector Clouseau.
David J
April 15th, 2009 12:29pm Report this commentDoes this also apply to Matt d'Ancona and his book on "Britishness" with the Broon? A fact which Gavin Esler delighted in sharing with us on Newsnight last night. The big tent looking a little frayed now methinks
David J
April 15th, 2009 12:29pm Report this commentDoes this also apply to Matt d'Ancona and his book on "Britishness" with the Broon? A fact which Gavin Esler delighted in sharing with us on Newsnight last night. The big tent looking a little frayed now methinks
Richard Bailey
April 15th, 2009 12:40pm Report this commentI was forced out the Civil Service for daring to aspire to be a (Conservative) District Councillor!!!
I was told by the dreadful Lucian Hudson that such political activity was not compatable and I would have to choose. I did choose - I left!
Richard
April 15th, 2009 12:54pm Report this commentCome off it, that book is effectivly an economic textbook, I can tell you, it's not a page turner.....
BrianSJ
April 15th, 2009 1:01pm Report this commentMike
"There should be many, many more political appointees to drive forward the radical reform agenda"
I thought that is what MPs were supposed to be?
Is the case for more SpAds entirely based on the incompetence of MPs?
mac
April 15th, 2009 1:04pm Report this commentBrown and co. must be so pleased to have so "sensible" a Cabinet Secretary as O'Donnell.
You know, impartial and selflessly upholding that peerless, whiter-than-white New Labour political morality, keeping his distance from politicians, and maintaining the high standards set for the role by Lord Hankey.
Were he alive, Hankey would be be appalled to see just how diminished and politicised is the appointment of Cabinet Secretary.
Peter Buss
April 15th, 2009 1:15pm Report this commentQuite !
Imagine then my surprise at Matthew d'Ancona being introduced on Newsnight last evening as someone who is co-authoring a book with none other than Gordon Brown on "Britishness" I know the guy is not a civil servant but can we trust our Matthew to be impartial now !
TrevorsDen
April 15th, 2009 1:19pm Report this commentSorry - my last missive (posted I think by accident) was incomplete.
To repeat they have a second book -
The complete title for Balls' and O'Donell's other effort is - "Reforming Britains Economic and Financial Policy - Towards Greater Economic Stability"
Oh and the blurb on the former effort says - "This volume is a key resource for students of economics and politics, bringing together the work which will have a profound influence on the future of British economic policy making."
A 'profound influence' well you can say that again and it says all we need to know about the judgement of Sir Gus.
Andrew
April 15th, 2009 1:34pm Report this commentIt is not that the Labour Party has subverted the permanent secretariat, it is that the Labour Party is fast becoming "...Nothing less than the political arm of the Civil Service as a whole."
Viewed from that perspective, the civil servant McBride was anticipating the wishes of his master (like a Plantagenet knight off to Canterbury), but his master was not necessarily Gordon Brown.
TGF UKIP
April 15th, 2009 1:52pm Report this commentJust in case they do, by default, happen to win the next election, the Tories should start making it crystal clear that they would find it impossible to accept as Head of the Civil Service someone who had so closely identified himself with the Labour Government.
O'Donnell long ago abandoned any pretence of neutrality.
JWright
April 15th, 2009 2:15pm Report this commentbout his being too close to the labour party. Perhaps it is time that we all take a long look aat what he does and perhaps some retired senior civil servants could enlighten us about the Law Ethics and Customs of the CS/Politico interface.AND SirG might consider his position. This Is Not Going To Go Away!
Ricardo's Ghost
April 15th, 2009 2:21pm Report this commentMicroeconomic Reform in Britain: Delivering Opportunities For All is a student textbook, published by the Treasury. The title is no more political than any other government publication.
It was co-edited by Ed Balls (then top policy SpAd), Gus O'Donnell (then Perm Sec at HMT), and Joe Grice (then Chief Economist at HMT). Are we saying now that the Treasury ought not to publish textbooks about what they do?
Of all the times to try to smear someone by implication and innuendo, this is one of the worst. Think again Spectator.
J Wright
April 15th, 2009 2:26pm Report this commentP.S. Sir Gus O
John Jones
April 15th, 2009 2:59pm Report this commentyou mean d'Ancona's writing the book and Browns putting his name to it. what is the editor of the Spectator doing mixing with such company. Hasn't brown got enough media lickspittles to help him write such stuff.
Back to top