Letter: Civil servants should not become political scapegoats
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: So you want senior civil servants' jobs to be on the line when the policies of their departments go wrong (leading article, 11 March). Fine; but surely natural justice demands that they should be allowed to respond to criticism, even (dare one suggest) by explaining that they advised ministers against the policies criticised?
Think about it. While doing so, spare a thought for the permanent secretary who would rather like to have a non-automatic knighthood, and therefore holds back from offering the unpopular advice to ministers that has been the hallmark of an adviser worth his salt until now. If, as the Prime Minister has asserted, the award of automatic knighthoods to High Court judges secures their independence, where is the difference?
Yours faithfully,
IVOR LIGHTMAN
Lisvane, Cardiff
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments