IN response to David Owen: The ignorant bluffers taking us into Brexit, Suthringa wrote:

When I was involved in lobbying in Whitehall thirty years ago the scales dropped from my eyes. As my then boss remarked to me about the senior ‘civil’ servants: ‘They are arrogant and ignorant.’ Things are clearly worse since then as those who may have had some practical involvement in implementing policies have disappeared to be replaced by essay writers confusing their role and position with SPADs and moving on and around departments for ‘career experience’. Only the Treasury counts in policy and they have a very narrow view ‘cut costs’ rather than making efficiencies – ie budget slashing without any real effectiveness.

Their self-appraisal makes them believe they are ‘the Rolls-Royce of an administrative class’ when in fact they are a Reliant Robin which has failed its MoT.