08 July 2005
Senior civil servants have called on the Home Office to take a 'robust approach' in dealing with senior official Louise Casey, following her ill-considered comments on antisocial behaviour policies.
The FDA union, which represents senior Whitehall staff, has also called on the government to 'end its procrastinating over a civil service Act' and pass a Bill in order to enshrine the rights and responsibilities expected of Whitehall staff when in post.
Jonathan Baume, FDA general secretary, said critical remarks made by Casey at a private event attended by senior police officers last month, which were caught on tape by a fellow guest, 'are a clear breach of the civil service code' and also bring 'the Home Office into disrepute'.
Baume also urged incoming Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell, and the Civil Service Commission, to 'review the quality of training and development for external appointees to the civil service'.
The FDA has long been concerned about the status and remit of such staff.
Casey, head of the Home Office's antisocial behaviour unit, attacked several key government policies, including the campaign to reduce binge drinking, during a light-hearted speech in Stratford-on-Avon. As a leading figure in Tony Blair's social 'respect' agenda, Casey oversees some of the initiatives she dismissed.
She also belittled ministerial powers, poked fun at Home Secretary Charles Clarke, and attacked Number 10 for its 'obsession' with conducting extensive research before implementing policy.
'I suppose you can't binge drink any more because lots of people have said you can't do it. I don't know who bloody made that up, it's nonsense,' she said.
She added that some ministers might perform better if they turned up for work drunk. 'Doing things sober is no way to get things done,' she joked.
Casey later said she would 'deck' Downing Street advisers if they continued to use management jargon.
Following Baume's call for action, a Home Office spokesman said: 'Like all employees, she [Casey] is subject to the civil service code. We will be looking into her comments.'
A spokeswoman for the prime minister said Blair had 'high regard' for Casey's achievements in her post.
'Lots of people have said things after dinner and when they see them in the cold light of day would regret them,' she said.
PFjul2005
