Top mandarin ‘reminds’ staff of bias rules in wake of Housden comments
Sir Peter Housden's comments led Bob Kerslake to make his point
THE UK’s most senior civil servant has insisted that government officials must act with integrity and openness, following concerns about the impartiality of Scotland’s Permanent Secretary, Sir Peter Housden.
Sir Bob Kerslake reminded Scottish staff of the “core values” of civil servants after suggestions that Sir Peter had been frozen out by other mandarins when they discussed independence.
Opposition politicians reacted with dismay to reports that Whitehall permanent secretaries no longer bring up Scotland if Sir Peter is present at top-level meetings.
It was suggested that other permanent secretaries have agreed not to discuss Scotland, because they no longer believe they can have “free and frank discussions” with Sir Peter in the room.
In the past, Sir Peter has been roundly criticised for compromising his neutral political position by appearing to favour Alex Salmond’s plans to break up Britain.
Last month, Sir Peter circulated a memo to staff, in which he informed civil servants that he expected “substantial negotiations” with UK ministers after the independence poll – all but dismissing the prospect of an SNP defeat.
According to reports, it was this memo that persuaded Sir Peter’s senior colleagues not to discuss Scotland at the weekly meeting on Wednesday mornings in Whitehall. Instead, they hold smaller ad hoc meetings without Sir Peter to look at the constitutional issue.
Yesterday, it emerged that Sir Bob met Scottish Government staff, including Sir Peter, last Thursday and discussed the challenges of dealing with the conflicting views on Scotland held by those in power in London and Edinburgh.
At the meeting, Sir Bob said: “We’re well used to serving the elected ministers of the day, whether in the Scottish Government or the UK government. It’s part of the core values of the civil service to do that with integrity and openness, giving honest and direct advice and professional support to the ministers we serve, wherever we work.”
Opposition politicians have expressed alarm over Sir Peter. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: “Peter Housden’s behaviour could end up costing Scotland its place at the heart of civil service.
“It’s no surprise that the rest of the UK civil service view him with suspicion now, given that he has ‘gone native’.”
Scottish Labour’s culture and external affairs spokeswoman, Patricia Ferguson, said: “If the constant wrangling about the referendum is getting in the way of government operating and co-operating in other areas, that is really problematic. ”
Sir Bob and the Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood were in Edinburgh last week. But the Scottish Government described the meeting as “part of a routine visit”.
In a joint statement, Sir Bob and Sir Jeremy said suggestions that Sir Peter was being kept out of the loop were “wide of the mark”.
They said: “Far from being shut out, Sir Peter Housden … is a very experienced and valued member of the top team who regularly attends the Wednesday morning meeting of Whitehall permanent secretaries.”
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “All permanent secretaries are invited to the weekly round-up meeting. If Scotland is on the agenda it is discussed.”
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Comments
There are 41 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Col.Blimp III
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:37 PMThis guy's "crime" appears to be that he was in the early stages of preparing a contingency plan for use in the event of a YES vote in the forthcoming referendum ..... Have all the civil servants who have not done so, been similarly demonised and ostracised for showing bias in favour of the union ?
The Harder They Come
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:06 PMIt is barbaric and disgutsing (the british way) to attack civil servants like this. Willie Rennie, who let's face it is a fourth rate bit part politician that Scotland wouldn't miss is a complete disgrace of a man and in bad need of serious dental care.
Hector
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:20 PMAll the British media including TV and newspapers are anti independence and virulently anti SNP. All political parties except the Scottish greens are anti independence and despise the SNP. Now the so called neutral civil service has got in on the act. The SNP are the democratically elected government of Scotland, they didn't seize power, people actually voted for them. These continuous attacks by all Scottish opposition and UK wide parties as well as influential individuals are becoming quite a concern if you're a democrat. Is this what's going to become the common refrain from all those in a position of power who disagree with the elected government in Edinburgh?
Simonsaid
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:51 PM#35- Anagach ------- You, the fake Scots you put on at times and your troubled relationship with the caps key. ======================================================= You were obviously born wi a strong jealous gene – nae point it fightin it
buachaille 1021
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:46 PMThis is what the Telegraph, in connivance with all 3 Unionist parties and Gus O'Donnell, have been working for. This is their idea of democracy: fly an idea, exaggerate and repeat it until it is an accepted 'truth'. telegraph.co.uk...... For an interesting perspective on the impartiality of Gus O'Donnell, see here craigmurray.org.uk......
Family guy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:34 PMTop mandarins in Holyrood. Top bananas in Westminster.
Anagach
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:17 PM23 Simonsaid The relationship between top civil service mandarins and politicians is akin to the relationship between.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You, the fake Scots you put on at times and your troubled relationship with the caps key.
Simonsaid
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:46 PM#30- anationagain …….a very timely intervention by the SDA, a party which ironically many of our more right wing unionist 'children' may well ======================================================== …..EH NAW A DINNAE THING SO. WHA WID WANT TAE JOIN A PAIRTY THIT ATTRACTED WEANS?
Willie Boy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:40 PMWillie Rennie MSP said: “Peter Housden’s behaviour could end up costing Scotland its place at the heart of civil service. What a poor wee timorous beastie Wee Wullie Rennie is when he squeaks out with a statement like this. There must be an awfie smell o poo in the Rennie hoose.
Simonsaid
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:36 PMOH AND A FORGOT TAE ADD NAE CHECKS FUR ETHNIC MINORITIES AT gLASGA AIRPORT
Simonsaid
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:34 PM#28- Gibbo- Dear dear Gibbo you shouldn’t be using words like “SNP’s propaganda machine” it has rather unfortunate connotations of SNP attempts to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes and behaviour of the easily conned – .examples such as –Brave Heart, Battle of Bannockburn, Rabbie Burns, Alex Sallmond (eh mibees naw) and aw that and aw that
anationagain
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:44 AMWithout too much comment I would like to bring this to the attention of the playground posse, ie scottish unionists this will explain why club UK will not walk over the sovereign people soon to be state , of Scotland. http:www.scottishtimes.orgscottish_democratic_alliance_memorandum a very timely intervention by the SDA, a party which ironically many of our more right wing unionist 'children' may well end up voting for post Independence
Intervention
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:01 AMThe BBC's spurious reasons for blocking Alex Salmond's TV appearance at Murrayfield on grounds of being too close to Local Elections in May and the "heightened tensions" over independence gives real concern that their London political editor will not ensure any balance between now and 2014 .....................................will all programmes discussing independence have an equal number for and against or will it be the three anti Scottish independence parties V SNP.....................................Will SNP get weekly appearances on Question Time....................................... ...... Last night's Sports Nation programme was claiming that the SNP would use 2014 Commonwealth Games for political; propaganda....................will there be a ban on David Cameron et al promoting Britishness during the Olympic Games.?
Gibbo
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:52 AM25 Simonsaid, thats a load of rubbish and you know it, the reason is they make a big gaff everytime they try to rubbish the SNP and are well known as the SNPs propaganda machine, everytime they put an anti SNP article of AIR they give another reason for us to gain more points, now is that not true, if you doubt it the article about the civil servants is apoint in question, a good time to bury bad news asMr Blair once said.
Alicia Murray
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:47 AMIf you read the English papers the mandarins are leaving their jobs in droves the ones left are so incompetent they are being sent on leadership courses on how to run a project and spend public money. Look at the MOD completely unfit for purpose, they are even unable to make their top heavy generals redundant, Tax office big business is running rings round them. Border Agency illegals and criminals come and go as they like and staff sell visas. Justice system broken - judges who have no care for the tax payers and their families safety by allowing Islamic terrorist and other foreign criminals to stay in Britain. Transport - most expensive, overcrowded trains. This dept seems to kill people pretty regularly by saving money on routine maintenance. What can you say bad enough about the Treasury and the Foreign Office nice houses in nice cities for politicians friends to stay in between wars. The EU officials have defeated Britain's at everything since Thatcher. Thieving MPs. Westminster is a corrupt to the core spent force. It has to be the English people to fix it as they are the only people with the population numbers to do it. Bring it on our civil servants - the best in Britain and I, for one, thank you for being corruption free unlike the political parties that berate you and or looking after our interests and serving our democratically elected Government in Edinburgh.
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