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Diana Goldsworthy's avatar

Thank you Martin, you have said it plainly: complacency and defensiveness have diseased the principles of public service. As a former civil servant I am ashamed that those whom we claim to serve were let down so badly for so long.

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Elliot Finer's avatar

Martin has done a great job in drawing together threads from the different scandals. Common elements include standard corporate defensiveness; failure to treat seriously the complaints of 'ordinary people' who are outside the system; senior staff having been promoted for their skill in serving upwards rather than managing downwards; and determination to avoid having to pay compensation. Powerful parliamentary investigations would address at least some of these.

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