I’m not sure how to describe on a family-friendly blog what people in the know say the mood in Downing Street is like. But Sam Coates has a great example of just how bitter things are over there and how tense relations are between Jeremy Heywood, permanent secretary at Number Ten, and Stephen Carter:
On Friday morning, it escalated. There were sore heads all round after the expenses debacle – where was Gordon at the time of the vote? what were those meetings? – and all 200 staff gathered in Downing Street, where they were addressed by Mr Heywood.
According to one witness, he began by saying: “I had hoped Stephen Carter could be here this morning, but he has got tickets to the semi finals at Wimbledon.” The new team around Carter, the old Brownites and the civil service all appear to be at war with each other. While this is the case, it is hard to see how Brown can get his footing back.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in