How Did The Relationship Between Civil Servants And Ministers Change From 1979?

The civil service reforms between 1979 and 1990 took their toll on the relationship. The beginning of Majorism signalled the end of permanent revolution in Whitehall, with privatisations, staff cuts, pay restraint, efficiency drives and institutional reform. Primary evidence for politicisation is the fact that either Mrs. Thatcher or Mr. Major had approved the promotion of every single occupant of a Grade 1 or Grade 2, and every Grade 3 civil servant had received his or her position during the Conservative years.

During 1979 and 1990, senior positions were filled with civil servants who were compliant and unlikely to disapprove of ministers' ideological goals. Also, ministers' attitudes towards officials changed during the 18 years of Conservative rule. Many ministers lost their respect for their officials. Ministers who are determined to fulfil their goals will not use civil servants, ' as advisors on policy but, as they should be used, as instruments for implementing his/her own original intentions' (Plowden 1994). From this evidence, we can see that ministers appear to be very much in charge. But ministers were not necessarily all powerful during the period of Thatcher rule. Civil servants were able to exercise some control over the policy-making process.

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