Mark Sedwill is sacked, or resigns, or moves to a new challenge, or whatever. Fact is he is gone. No matter how it is papered over it’s one for Boris (and Cummings). In fact three out of the four top Civil Servants have gone – don’t forget Priti Patel also won her battle. Not so long ago an ex cabinet Secretary proclaimed that if a Minister clashed with his/her Permanent Secretary it was the Minister who went and the Mandarin who stayed – how things change.

And not before time. For too long the upper echelons of the Civil Service have been a self supporting cabal convinced that they knew better than the common herd, and that the last thing you must do is rock the boat. Their own entrenched way and leap to the defence of any of “us” who someone dares to question.

Whatever you think of Brexit the democratic decision was Yes. Not so our bureaucrats who in their wisdom assumed it could never happen, refused to accept it when it did, and then fought tooth and nail to sabotage it. The Servant part of Civil Servant is conveniently ignored.

Take the present situation we face. Front line NHS staff and many support workers, including the Army have performed marvellously. In an unprecedented situation Ministers have on balance done quite well – some mistakes but always easy to be wise after the event. However behind them have been the continuous administrative problems – bumbling senior managers whilst often their subordinates struggle on and get the blame.

So lets look at the deal these top civil servants and managers of public bodies get. A very nice salary with automatic annual increases and a range of “benefits”. A heavily subsidised gold plated index linked final salary pension scheme. Generous holiday entitlement. Virtually unsackable. If anyone fouls up they are moved to another job, usually with a salary increase to compensate for their hurt feelings. And then of course their honours which are almost part of their conditions of service. As you move up the ladder you collect increasingly prestigious awards, just for being there in most cases, not for any outstanding achievement. Needless to say at a certain level becoming a Sir is just expected.

All members of, and have, the FDA to look after them and protect them. In case you haven’t guessed FDA stands for First Division Association. That pretentious name says it all – only above a certain rank are you admitted to membership. Note the FDA Secretary had to put out a hasty message congratulating Sedwell on his many achievements and assuring us the Government would be weakened by his departure.

Turning to Sir Mark himself – he already has his knighthood of course. No doubt he will have an enhancement to his pension pot. Needless to say he has been found a nice little job to move seamlessly to. And to smooth his ruffled feathers a peerage has been added – Lord Sedwell. Nice work if you can get it. But he is on his way and maybe a message will get through to the 170 or so Civil Servants paid a higher salary than the Prime Minister. Here’s hoping.