Douglas Carswell's Blog

Sir Humphrey is the problem ....

It's not just about gaining power.  Politics is also about what you do with it. 

If politicians are to hold power - and not merely office - they need a clear game plan.  Otherwise they end up like Labour ministers under Brown - mere mouthpieces for their departments.  Apologists for failure. 

Turning Britain around begins by ousting Labour.  But there needs to be a plan to deal with the permanent bureaucracy and the quango state responsible for so much of what is wrong. 

As Paul Richards first-class article in the Times today puts it:

"If Mr Cameron really wants to reform the Civil Service, he should make senior civil servants, from Grade 3 and above, directly accountable to his ministers, appointed by the government, and subject to pre-appointment scrutiny as in the United States."

Real accountability to those we elect?  Sir Humphrey'll hate it.

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