Oh dear! Whitehall looks set for some fireworks on the industrial relations front this winter. Amid talk of swingeing cuts in all departments I am told there is growing concern that officials in the middle and junior ranks are taking a wholly disproportionate share of the pain. While their jobs disappear, the number of people in the senior civil service – the top five grades – is actually going UP. The total rose from 4,480 in 2006 to 4,670 last year. This may not sound much but given that it is the senior people who have been arranging for the junior ones to go, you can see the sensitivities. Cuts at lower levels have been substantial. HM Revenue and Customs, for example, originally signed up to cut 25,000 jobs by April next year and so far some 19,000 have gone – nearly all among junior staff.

The Whitehall establishment is putting a brave face on the figures. In a line straight out of Yes Minister, the cabinet office says the rise in SCS numbers is down to “the increased focus on improved service delivery and value for money, which requires increased leadership capacity.” (Wow! When the crapola quotient goes that high you know they are in trouble.)