There was a time when Members of Parliament treated Whitehall's senior mandarins with healthy scepticism, even outright ridicule. Today, that dynamic has dangerously reversed, with elected representatives increasingly cowed by the permanent government machine.
The Era of Parliamentary Backbone
Historically, MPs understood their constitutional role as masters, not servants, of the civil service. Figures like former Labour MP Tam Dalyell would regularly skewer Whitehall's 'panjandrums' - the high-ranking officials who often acted with unaccountable arrogance. The Palace of Westminster echoed with robust challenges to bureaucratic overreach.
The Shift in Power Dynamics
What changed? The erosion began gradually. The increasing complexity of government, the professionalisation of politics, and the growing influence of special advisers created a culture where MPs became hesitant to challenge the 'experts'. The civil service, rather than being seen as implementers of political will, began to position themselves as the true guardians of governance.
Consequences for Democracy
This power shift has profound implications:
- Elected officials increasingly defer to unelected officials on major policy decisions
- The constitutional balance between temporary politicians and permanent civil servants has been upended
- Ministerial authority is routinely undermined by bureaucratic inertia
- The public's democratic voice is diluted through layers of unaccountable administration
A Call for Restoration
The solution lies in MPs rediscovering their constitutional courage. They must remember they are elected to lead, not to be led by career bureaucrats. The relationship needs rebalancing - not through hostility, but through clear assertion of democratic authority. Until MPs regain their nerve, Whitehall's panjandrums will continue to wield power without accountability.
The health of British democracy depends on restoring the proper relationship between those elected by the people and those employed to serve them.
