In less time than it takes to say “tax debacle”, I hear a new tune, a blue tune sounding through Whitehall. Top civil servants are starting to talk Tory. “It’s the only responsible thing to do,” says one insider primly. “Officials have a duty to think about future policies. Civil service neutrality is not about being neutral between the government and the opposition – it’s about being enthusiastic about the present government and the next government.” Wow! The king isn’t dead yet – just bruised. Is Whitehall being a bit previous in offloading Browns and buying up blue chips?

“The mood among the permanent secretaries is one of dissatisfaction rather then anger,” one distinguished Whitehall figure told me over lunch (chicken liver parfait and griddled scallops, since you ask.) Their main gripe – understandably – is that they have been sidelined in favour of political advisers. Small wonder if there is a touch of schadenfreude about. “What happened to the much vaunted Stephen Carter and his new team?” asked my lunch date. “How come they couldn’t shut down some of this media furore?” His tone was not exactly one of unholy glee but he spoke with some relish. Yet what has changed in Whitehall is the perception that Gordon Brown is likely to lose his majority at the next election.