Leaders: Empathy does not imply any lack of impartiality

Published on Wednesday 8 February 2012 12:28

HAS Scotland’s top civil servant, Sir Peter Housden, “gone native” and ceased to be impartial at the outset of a long and highly sensitive run-up to Scotland’s independence referendum?

Or have leading UK civil servants closed ranks against an administration at St Andrew’s House obliged to work for an SNP administration with which they have little rapport or understanding?

According to reports yesterday, other permanent secretaries have agreed not to discuss Scottish independence with Sir Peter because they no longer believe they can have “free and frank discussions” with him in the room. “Unprecedented action” is said to have been agreed by the other permanent secretaries: holding smaller, ad hoc meetings to discuss Whitehall’s reaction to plans by the SNP administration in the approach to the independence referendum.

If true, these reports are worrying on two counts. First, they follow criticism of Sir Peter for appearing to compromise his neutral position to favour Alex Salmond’s referendum ambitions. Critics have also pointed to recent informal blogs by the permanent secretary recounting mundane and inconsequential matters relating to his activities outside office hours. It would clearly be problematic if Sir Peter was seen as a figure not to be trusted by those who do not agree with the First Minister’s politics.

Second, and arguably more worrying, is the effect that a polarisation within the civil service such as that now being speculated on would have on the preparations for an independence referendum.

Indeed, it is hard to see how informed and intelligent summations and decisions can be made in Whitehall without strong and robust input from St Andrew’s House.

That on a wide range of matters “we do things differently here” is not the product of subjective whim but a reflection of the government and the degree of devolution that the voters of Scotland have made clear that they wish. It is by no means clear that this wish extends to independence.

But there are differences in thinking, attitude and approach that distinguish the Scottish perspective and which do not entail an endorsement of any particular outcome in the forthcoming referendum. Whitehall would be the poorer were senior civil servants to adopt cabalistic positions – ones which, seen from a different perspective, may indicate an indifference or unwillingness to understand the nuance of difference. This, after all, is what lies at the heart of devolution.

That having been said, Sir Bob Kerslake, the UK’s most senior civil servant, has issued a timely admonition that officials should act with integrity and openness. Serving elected ministers, whether in London or Edinburgh, with these qualities is part of the “core values” of civil servants, “giving honest and direct advice and professional support to the ministers we serve, wherever we work”. Amen to that.

Madonna’s a material gain for Murrayfield

Pay freezes, tax rises and a mighty spending squeeze forcing shops to close: it hardly seems the best of times for a visit from the world- famous Material Girl. But barely has the news broken of Madonna’s first-ever concert in Edinburgh’s Murrayfield stadium, with tickets priced at up to £125 a pop, than there is talk of a sell-out and a mini boom in Scotland’s capital this summer. According to business leaders, the Madonna concert scheduled for 21 July could bring a £60 million windfall for Edinburgh’s hotels, restaurants, cafes and clubs. Did someone say austerity? Clearly not when Madonna’s in town. Her remarkable appeal across gender and age groups is set to give a notable lift to the city, even to those whose musical tastes do not run to her raucous and raunchy persona. In addition to her many Scots fans, it is believed her Murrayfield appearance will attract followers from the rest of the UK and worldwide.

Is life now so grim that a ticket offering a brief escape cannot be priced high enough? Might it be that she invokes memories of a different, more confident and materially upbeat world before the global banking crisis brought the shutters down? Whatever the reason, her popularity has endured and her appearance in Scotland will be a tonic for an Edinburgh that may be feeling out of it with the London Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in that city. What does it matter for our hoteliers and restaurateurs that one top-price ticket for Madonna will cost easily more than two dress circle seats for La Boheme? Madonna fans are far more numerous – and their excitement will extend to a big party afterwards.

Business weighs up bonuses against responsibility

Bonuses waived at Royal Bank of Scotland, Fred Goodwin stripped of his knighthood and Network Rail bosses passing up their bonuses in the face of a gathering storm: there is little doubt that a turning point has been reached and public fury over boardroom excess is hitting home. The problem for politicians now is how to ensure this corrective sanction against excess is properly targeted and does not degenerate into an anti-business pogrom that could end up destroying genuine, hard-earned incentives for enterprise and with it the investment and jobs that entrepreneurs create.

Yesterday Labour, keen to reap maximum political capital, renewed calls for a bonus clampdown at a time when people were facing the “biggest squeeze on their living standards in a generation”. Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna called for a change in culture, which he argued was seeing bankers “right at the centre of the crisis” continue to receive “very high remuneration” in contrast to those struggling to find jobs. Chancellor George Osborne also insists that rewards for failure are unacceptable, but he warned last night that what is at stake are not the pay packages of a few “but jobs and prosperity for the many”. But for that view to prevail, business must act responsibly and with regard to the times we are in.

Comments

There are 11 comments to this article

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

11

Niddrieman

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:57 PM

What is needed a clear declaration of conflicts of interest from all those that will be undertaking key rolls in the debate in the Scottish Executive and other organisations and agencies. For example Crawford Beveridge as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers has declared his support for independence..although he was a bit shy about it. If we are going to conduct this debate in a mature manner then we should expect transparency from those most involved in it, rather than pretending for example civil servants have no view on the matter, apart from the denial of democracy its simply not realistic and i would much prefer to know now the views of senior civil servants pro or anti.

• Report Unsuitable

10

Brond

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:56 AM

#7 Hearthammer, Yes, well someone had to given that the information was out there before the Scotsman articles went live. It is odd that despite the letter stating the contrary position, the Scotsman has run three articles in the same edition attempting to continue the smear against a public servant. A smear begun by a Lord. Oh what times we live in.

• Report Unsuitable

9

McNasty

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:51 AM

Peter Housden's job is loyalty to the properly elected government of Scotland. Perhaps Westsinister civil servants feel he should be obstructing the democratically elected SNP government? It may very well be Peter Housden appreciates the civil way his civil servants are being treated by the SNP as compared to the bombastic way they were treated under the previous Labour Lib-Dem government.

• Report Unsuitable

8

JPJ2

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:38 AM

Here we go again..........................................................................................on a near daily basis the Scotsman invents a lying, distorting story which it tries to pass off as news, and then writes an anti-SNP story based on those lies.........................................................................I put you neck and neck with the Daily Retard now-hope you are proud of that .

• Report Unsuitable

7

Hearthammer

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:26 AM

#1, you've commited a mortal sin! You've stated facts!

• Report Unsuitable

6

allymax

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:15 AM

Good; the internal divisions have begun. Thery're fechtin' n' snipin' like the vipers they are, at each other in a sack ! Just a matter o' time now before they turn on each other within their ane 'Westminster-only club'. Housden is well out of it; he must be thanking God he's honest !

• Report Unsuitable

5

Proud Doonhamer

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:16 AM

According to reports... that is the Anti-Scotsman code for "WE JUST MADE IT UP!"

• Report Unsuitable

4

christelijk_recht

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:02 AM

When ever I see an editorial that starts off, ". . According to reports . . ", without ANY attempt at identifying the source of the alleged reports, I smell mendacity. If subsequently I read, " . . If true, these reports are worrying . . ", I know that I am almost certainly being fed an unsavory equine byproduct. ............................................................................................................................ This has to be among the most transparently phony premise and proposition I have had the misfortune to read anywhere at any time ........................................................................................................................ Can I ask the Scotsman's editors, what has this man done to you that you think it is within the bounds of journalistic ethical practice, to fabricate a leader article that uses this scurrilous ploy to defame him? This is someone's career and life you are assaulting. ........................................................................................................................... At long last, in the name of common decency, have you no shame?

• Report Unsuitable

3

Beachdair

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:18 AM

Is the flag arrangement at the top of thr page intended to convey a message?

• Report Unsuitable

2

Brond

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:49 AM

Interestingly, in October, Sir Gus O' Donnell said about criticisms (from Lord Foulkes) of Sir Peter Housden: “It is right and proper that civil servants working to their respective administrations undertake the relevant work to support their ministers to pursue their aims, whether or not these aims are the subject of political controversy.” In 2009, Lord Foulkes complained about Sir John Elvidge but Sir Gus O' Donnell at that time similarly dismissed the accusations.

• Report Unsuitable

1

Brond

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:29 AM

This letter from Sir Bob Kerslake and Sir Jeremy Heywood appeared in the Telegraph earlier:_______________ "SIR – We fear your article is wide of the mark (“Whitehall staff shun Scotland in talks on break-up”, report, February 7). The civil service is a far more collegiate organisation than you give us credit for. Far from being shut out, Sir Peter Housden, the permanent secretary for the Scottish Government, is a very experienced and valued member of the top team who regularly attends the Wednesday morning meeting of Whitehall permanent secretaries._____________________We have also recently asked Sir Peter to sit on the new Civil Service Board which will provide strategic leadership for the Civil Service: reaching a collective view on key issues affecting the Civil Service, providing collective advice to ministers and where appropriate, taking decisions on behalf of the Service._____________________Our visit to Scotland reflected our ambition to get out of Whitehall and get a wider view of what is happening in the country. It is worth saying that we are also scheduled to visit Wales shortly. The debate on independence will no doubt be a lively one. But we are a single civil service, and we will continue to support our respective administrations through this period according to our core values of honesty, impartiality, integrity and objectivity."

• Report Unsuitable

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

Logged in as:

Comment here. Start typing your comment here:

Post comment

Please adhere to our Community guidelines

Your view

Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.