GOVT-130 FA3 Lecture 7: CP 9/29 Civil Service and Whitehall
5 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Roots of civil service in britain go back to the king"s court. Whitehall is a geographical location in london as well as a general term for the british government. Whitehall is a state of mind according to colin pilkington. Governments change their political complexion after a general election. Government ministers regularly come and go either by resignation or cabinet reshuffling. Cabinet positions can be filled from private or public sector so appointees often don"t understand the department they are running. Continuity between new minister and senior civil servants in the department is greater when the minister takes a middle-of-the-road policy. Important that civil servants show impartiality; do not make policy but carry out decision. If convinced of the need for action on practical grounds the civil service will assist labor governments to enact socialism and will impartially help conservatives tear it down .
