” … Whitehall (EDDC) is today more preoccupied with short-term news management than the minutiae of policies that may not feel like a political priority at the time. This is exacerbated by the destructive process of the now twice-yearly spending rounds, where the Treasury (Cabinet) makes demands on departments so the chancellor (Leader) can square the books for the latest set-piece budget or spending statement, and made worse by the high turnover of personnel in the Treasury (Cabinet officers) – in excess of 20% a year. This means that the brightest but most inexperienced brains are often dictating policy to departments who know all too well the disastrous effects of poor spending decisions but are powerless to resist the combined might of Nos 10 and 11, (the CEO and the Leader) with their armies of spads and policy advisers. In fact, “policy” becomes no more than the latest demand in the name of the prime minister or chancellor, (CEO or Leader) rather than the considered and consulted approach that departments are so often disempowered to follow through.

The lesson is the paradox of ministers’ (Cabinet members) experience: the more the Treasury (Cabinet) centralises “to get things done”, the less actually gets done, because the officials and structures capable of carrying out real and rational action in departments are frustrated or discouraged from making decisions. The one thing that is delegated is blame. Only after things start to go wrong are those ministers (Cabinrt members) and officials (officers) given responsibility and made accountable. Thus the Treasury (Cabinet) was blaming Iain (Independents or Sidmouth – take your pick!) for the failure of the personal independence payment policy (relocation, regeneration, beach huts – take your choice again!) that it imposed in the first place. It is time for Downing Street (Knowle) to change its ways.

(Bernard Jenkin is chairman of the public administration and constitutional affairs select committee)