Forgive a bit of an evening rant but am finding the whole 'civil service was out of touch over Brexit and therefore needs reform / destruction / whatever' to be wrong on so many levels it needs to be called out... even if I know its just politics, but dangerous politics.

Firstly the civil service scarcely talks party politics. Because you're there to do a job for the government of the day, and party politics would get in the way. And it was that the day after the referendum - ok what happens now was the predominant mood.

And the civil service in London and around the country is pretty diverse. Could be better, particularly on social class, but compares well to the private sector organisations I worked for. Also we were supposed to talk to people to find the picture, not be fully representative.

Use of analysis? Far better than most organisations. The civil service typically takes providing evidence pretty seriously, that is a fundamental part of the job. The analyst community across Whitehall is large and talented. Compares well with others.

And it really isn't and should never be the job of the civil service to suggest to Ministers that policies or culture are out of touch with the voters. We have elected representatives for that function. Similarly to take huge risks - not and shouldn't be the job.

We can all join the criticism of too many generalists and not enough real experts. But that's similarly a problem in many organisations. Experts might get better and more lucrative offers. Or find it difficult to work for those less expert. It isn't just civil service policies.

I also notice that political types criticising the civil service tend to talk about the shadow or the blob, never their own experience of those working closely with them, who are routinely praised. Even though this is the same group of people.

Politicians were talking civil service reform long before I joined, and it continues after I left. One of those easy to say things. Awfully hard to change - because Ministers would have to work on the detail properly for years and not just leave it to, er, civil servants.

So what's really wrong with the civil service? The same as with any organisation. Human failings. People in the wrong job, desire to join in with the crowd, poor managers inexplicably promoted, resentment of challenge etc. But beyond that? What's really different?

The civil service is a useful scapegoat. Bureaucracies are and were, all over the world. All different, yet all seem to face the same issues. Could it just be that the easiest way to cover up failings is to blame others?

Rant over. /end

PS thanks for pointing this one out... https://twitter.com/stevieinselby/status/1277703546495012866