A Leaky Ship Will Sink - Sooner Or Later

One of the really annoying things about the late and little lamented Labour government was the constant leaking of major announcements to the media long before government proposals were put to the House of Commons. I had always imagined that these leaks were facilitated by right-leaning civil servants, eager to embarrass the government in whatever way they could.

With the advent of the coalition, I had fondly, and somewhat naively as it turns out, imagined that such leaks would be stemmed. Not so according to the Guardian's website.

Perhaps Nick Clegg should assume the responsibility for overseeing government announcements and berating or sacking recalcitrant civil servants who are simply unable to resist the bribes being offered by the voracious print media. If the source is a ministerial advisor, immediate sacking and public shaming is the only answer. If we are serious about cleaning up politics, then the toughest possible line has to be taken and heads must roll.

Sir Gus O’Donnell has to make it absolutely clear that if any civil servant is found to be the origin of these leaks, that person will be sacked immediately and forfeit his or her pension rights. However it is done, and whoever assumes responsibility, these leaks must be stopped. For this not to happen reveals a government out of control, and this cannot be tolerated at any stage in the life of a government, let alone within its first couple of weeks.

If this coalition is to survive beyond Christmas,these leaks must be stopped.