Sir Humphrey must go!

David Cameron's proposed reforms are worth considering. In fact any reform of our governance is worth considering. But between the idea and the reality falls the shadow, and the shadow is often those who have the strongest interest in the status quo.y

Tony Blair complained of the "forces of conservatism" and Iain Dale alluded to this today. It is a reality. George (not Gordon) tried to effect some civil service reforms in 1964 but even that old battler had to retire defeated. The Sir Humphreys of this world are very powerful and exercise great skill in preventing reform.

Tony Blair tried to work around the problem by hiring political whiz kids to work at number ten in order to work around the civil service. Plainly that gambit failed.

There is a solution. Make the Permanent Secretary NON- Permanent. The Canadians have a system which is obviously modelled on our but with some important reforms. One is to ensure that they are able to hire chief Civil servants who are disposed to their mind-set. They call them Deputy Ministers, nd often they will not survive a change of government.

I didn't always think so but now I see thisas a good system. The Permanent Secretary was devised to guarantee continuity but in modern times it guarantees ossification.

So if David Cameron is truly interested in effecting change he should first open up all the departmental top jobs. At a stroke change would become possible.