The British civil service was designed to run an empire, not to serve working people. Its purpose was to rule over people as subjects, not serve them as citizens. It was built to command and control. Clever people with the right sort of education who knew the decisions they made were better. Brains at the centre, obedience at the edge. Endless statistical knowledge, precious little experience on the ground.
It is plain to see this inheritance is creaking at the seams. We expect much more of the state than we did in its imperial past.
