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Pro-Margaret Thatcher article by two senior civil servants angers MPs Pro-Margaret Thatcher article by two senior civil servants angers MPs
(about 1 hour later)
Britain's two most senior civil servants were accused of "prostituting" their profession by writing a gushing article about Baroness Thatcher in a heated select committee meeting on Thursday. Britain's two most senior civil servants were accused of "prostituting" their profession by writing a gushing article about Lady Thatcher in a heated select committee meeting on Thursday.
Sir Bob Kerslake, the head of the civil service, and Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, were told by Labour MPs that they had abandoned their politically neutral position by appearing to praise the policies of the former prime minister who died on 8 April. Sir Bob Kerslake, the head of the civil service, and Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, were told by Labour MPs that they had abandoned their politically neutral position by appearing to praise the policies of the former prime minister who died on 8 April.
Both civil servants maintained that they had done nothing wrong and that the article was a reflection of the views of senior civil servants at the time. Paul Flynn, the veteran Welsh MP, walked out of the meeting following a 10-minute discussion about the co-written article, saying he was doing so in part because their answers had failed to address the key question of neutrality.Both civil servants maintained that they had done nothing wrong and that the article was a reflection of the views of senior civil servants at the time. Paul Flynn, the veteran Welsh MP, walked out of the meeting following a 10-minute discussion about the co-written article, saying he was doing so in part because their answers had failed to address the key question of neutrality.
The article appeared in the Daily Telegraph on Monday and raised eyebrows because of its lack of criticism of Thatcher over civil service cuts. The service lost 171,000 jobs during her premiership.The article appeared in the Daily Telegraph on Monday and raised eyebrows because of its lack of criticism of Thatcher over civil service cuts. The service lost 171,000 jobs during her premiership.
In the bylined comment piece, the two civil servants wrote: "She was kindly and unswervingly loyal to her team and, once she had decided what she thought, provided clear and consistent direction. To the country she was an Iron Lady; to those who worked with her she was a kind and considerate boss. In the piece, the two civil servants wrote: "She was kindly and unswervingly loyal to her team and, once she had decided what she thought, provided clear and consistent direction. To the country she was an Iron Lady; to those who worked with her she was a kind and considerate boss Her drive and determination changed the way people, including civil servants, thought about their own country.
"As Lord Wilson, her former Cabinet Secretary of the late 1980s, said, 'She made us positive about the revitalisation of the British economy'. Her drive and determination changed the way people, including civil servants, thought about their own country. "Alongside radical tax reforms, the abandonment of exchange controls and prices and incomes policies, the introduction of right to buy, a major overhaul of industrial relations law and the world's first privatisation programme, Margaret Thatcher also led a significant programme of civil service reform."
"Alongside radical tax reforms, the abandonment of exchange controls and prices and incomes policies, the introduction of right to buy, a major overhaul of industrial relations law and the world's first privatisation programme, Margaret Thatcher also led a significant programme of civil service reform," they wrote.
Later they added: "Her infamous working hours allowed the prime minister to consume vast quantities of briefings, and from her No 10 flat she would nourish her civil servants with home–cooked shepherd's pie whenever they were working late."Later they added: "Her infamous working hours allowed the prime minister to consume vast quantities of briefings, and from her No 10 flat she would nourish her civil servants with home–cooked shepherd's pie whenever they were working late."
At the public administration select committee meeting, Flynn, who represents many former steelworkers in his constituency of Newport West, said that the article was one-sided and failed to take account of the anger that Thatcher's policies had generated.At the public administration select committee meeting, Flynn, who represents many former steelworkers in his constituency of Newport West, said that the article was one-sided and failed to take account of the anger that Thatcher's policies had generated.
Flynn asked: "Will you now apologise for the overtly political nature of the article which you penned in the Daily Telegraph on Monday which was a clear breach of civil service neutrality?"Flynn asked: "Will you now apologise for the overtly political nature of the article which you penned in the Daily Telegraph on Monday which was a clear breach of civil service neutrality?"
Heywood replied: "I don't think that it was a clear breach at all."Heywood replied: "I don't think that it was a clear breach at all."
Flynn continued: "This is the main political issue that divides the country and divides this House ... You penned an article that was entirely sycophantic of the role of the former PM. This is not what civil servants should traditionally do. Isn't this a breach of civil service neutrality?"Flynn continued: "This is the main political issue that divides the country and divides this House ... You penned an article that was entirely sycophantic of the role of the former PM. This is not what civil servants should traditionally do. Isn't this a breach of civil service neutrality?"
Kerslake said he agreed with Heywood, and that the article had been written after consulting other former senior civil servants.Kerslake said he agreed with Heywood, and that the article had been written after consulting other former senior civil servants.
Flynn responded: "Look at the article: every word was in praise of Margaret Thatcher. Your article was entirely in praise of her. There was no question of trying to insert balance. It was hagiography."Flynn responded: "Look at the article: every word was in praise of Margaret Thatcher. Your article was entirely in praise of her. There was no question of trying to insert balance. It was hagiography."
Flynn's claims were backed by Kelvin Hopkins, the Labour member for Luton North, who said: "Paragraph 4 refers in glowing terms to ... the world's first privatisation programme as if it's a wonderful idea. A lot of us don't think it is. That is a political position." Flynn's claims were backed by another Labour MP, Kelvin Hopkinswho said: "Paragraph 4 refers in glowing terms to ... the world's first privatisation programme as if it's a wonderful idea. A lot of us don't think it is. That is a political position."
Kerslake maintained that the 700-word piece was fair: "The article was not intended to be a commentary on her policies, political or otherwise: it was to describe how civil servants of the day experienced working with a prime minister, and it seems to me to be a perfectly legitimate thing for us to write about." Kerslake : "The article was not intended to be a commentary on her policies, political or otherwise: it was to describe how civil servants of the day experienced working with a prime minister, and it seems to me to be a perfectly legitimate thing for us to write about."
The article was written entirely independently of government but had been cleared by Craig Oliver, the prime minister's director of communications, Heywood confirmed.The article was written entirely independently of government but had been cleared by Craig Oliver, the prime minister's director of communications, Heywood confirmed.
Flynn then gathered his papers. "I am going to leave the meeting – not entirely for this reason – but I think there is no reason continuing unless we can press this issue to a conclusion. I think you have prostituted your high office and deserted your political neutrality."Flynn then gathered his papers. "I am going to leave the meeting – not entirely for this reason – but I think there is no reason continuing unless we can press this issue to a conclusion. I think you have prostituted your high office and deserted your political neutrality."
The row shows how sensitive the issue of Thather's legacy will continue to be following her funeral on Wednesday. Members of the senior civil service are barred from holding office in a political party or publicly expressing controversial political viewpoints.The row shows how sensitive the issue of Thather's legacy will continue to be following her funeral on Wednesday. Members of the senior civil service are barred from holding office in a political party or publicly expressing controversial political viewpoints.