The lifespan of the civil servant–minister relationship

Tony Benn once said, “New ministers come in with very little knowledge and a great deal of energy – and leave with a great deal of knowledge and very little energy”.

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What happens when the permanence of civil servants meets the fleeting tenure of ministers?

Join Tom Brown as he explores the stages of this relationship; the stability of the British civil service versus the transient nature of ministerial roles; the energetic beginnings, challenging middle phase, and often abrupt end of a minister’s career; and stories about Harriet Harman, Caroline Flint, and Rory Stewart that bring these dynamics to life.

You can preorder Tom’s new book,