The Enemy Within?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68934480

Civil servants serve the people by implementing the elected governments policies. The clue is in the name. Why do these enemies of the state think they can mount legal challenges. What a bunch of self important narcissists.

[drmorgans]

 

Because they think the government's policy is illegal and they will be held legally responsible if they implement it?

 

[ToraToraTora]

It's not illegal. The government passed a law to make it legal, that is what the legislature do.

[douglas9401]

As someone once said, 'oh gawd'.

[gulliver1]

Drmorgans @ 09.34 There is your best answer already TTT.  lol.

[drmorgans]

 

The government is bound by certain international agreements that it has signed up to. And some that are implicit.

 

[Ken4155]

Just following orders can be used in defence but does not automatically absolve a person of guilt.

[ToraToraTora]

Perhaps but civil servants are not going to be held responsible for doing their jobs.

[ToraToraTora]

If we are being all pious and honourable, If they feel they do not want to do their jobs then they should resign.

[douglas9401]

"Perhaps but civil servants are not going to be held responsible for doing their jobs."

 

Well, not until they are as useless politicians close ranks and look for someone to blame for their failings.

[Old_Geezer]

They can try. The court will decide when it gets around to it, sometime in the next decade. If the verdict proves an obstruction then clearly some agreements will need to be withdrawn from as they are not providing the expected benefit. Then progress can be made.

[davebro3]

we were only following orders....

[Canary42]

 "enemies of the state" ... "self important narcissists." 

 

It will be amusing to note how TTT's epithets will change whenever the Civil Service thwart the next (Labour) Government.  

No doubt then they will be "bastions against Communism" and "Defenders of the people" --- LOL.

[ToraToraTora]

Un ruffle your feathers canary me old china. I may not agree with a lot of Labour policies but I support their right to implement them and my attitude to the civil service will be the same.

[gulliver1]

Perhaps this is the way the civil servants want a last dig at the Tories before they wave them  into opposition .End of.

[New Judge]

"The government is bound by certain international agreements that it has signed up to. And some that are implicit."

Indeed. But individuals or corporate bodies cannot be prosecuted for breaking them. Only the government (or, in some rare circumstances, the responsible Minister) can face court action. 

Compliance with the agreements involved is the responsibility of either the United Nations (e.g. the 1951 Convention on the Treatment of Refugees) or the European Court of Human Rights (e.g. the European Convention on Human Rights). Neither of these bodies has the power to try individuals or corporations. Neither of them has any powers of enforcement against the only bodies they can try (i.e. governments). The notion that individual Civil Servants or heads of departments can face legal action for complying with a government instruction is simply fanciful. It is virtue signalling by the "First Division Association" whose members simply do not agree with government policy.

[Untitled]

Enemy of whom? 

[retrocop]

 

// The clue is in the name. Why do these enemies of the state think they can mount legal challenges. What a bunch of self important narcissists.//

 

[douglas9401]

The enemy within or a failsafe to try and avoid the worst excesses of the witless soundbite chasers as they progress to their well paid positions after politics?

[sandyRoe]

Are we seeing the development of an American style system of checks and balances?

Parliament,  the courts, and the upper echelons of the civil service.

[ToraToraTora]

12:16 all of us. Our elected government is trying to halt a hostile invasion. These traitors are working for the enemy.