Tories’ anger as Whitehall ‘downs tools’

FURIOUS Ministers have accused civil servants of ‘downing tools’ and not treating the interim Government seriously.

Some officials are treating the next seven weeks as a ‘purdah’ period in the run-up to a General Election, the Ministers said.

This is particularly the case in departments where Boris Johnson’s team scrambled to fill many roles after the mass walkout of Ministers that triggered his resignation.

Purdah rules during elections mean any policy decisions on which a new government could take a different view should be postponed until after polling day.

One Minister said officials in some departments had ‘downed tools’ because they think some Ministers are ‘not going to be there for ever’.

Since more than 50 Ministers quit earlier this month, Downing Street has filled the positions to keep departments running while the Conservative

Party runs its leadership contest to pick Mr Johnson’s replacement.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former Tory Party leader, accused officials who are refusing to work for the current Government of being ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘politically motivated’.

He said the leadership election is an internal Conservative Party matter, adding: ‘This is not a period of purdah – it is unconstitutional to withdraw your labour. It is not their job as civil servants to second-guess what is going to happen in a month or two months’ time. Their job is to do what they are told to do, until someone else replaces the individuals there.

‘The Civil Service at times gets a bit uppity. I don’t believe this is a majority, but there are some who are politically motivated who think they can mess this Government around.’