Flicking the V's to Mp's

Today Permanent Secretary Jonathan Stephens was asked by the Public Accounts Committee about guidance he gave to Jeremy Hunt special adviser Adam Smith re passing information to News international during its bid for BskyB.

For 10 minutes , he refused to answer questions about his role, the footage is here.

His Official position is

" The permanent secretary did not feel it was appropriate to provide further information ahead of the department's evidence to the Leveson Inquiry ”

2 things strike the writer :-

He refused to answer as too his own conduct

and

There is no suggestion (yet) that Jonathan Stephens will give evidence to Leveson

Now my late mother was a civil servant and I have a HUGE admiration for these maligned creatures. But the civil service must be independent of politics and answerable.

Any MP who uses civil servants as political footballs is acting shamefully. Without a doubt the invasion of spads and the conduct of some MPs and ministers has eroded the independence.

Confirming facts can not be prejudicial. Probably the select committee would not have left it there and he knew it and then showdown the conversation.

So Jonathan Stephens wins my big balls award of the day, but also almost ( but didnt ) wins my Twonk of the day award.

I want to hear his answer as to his role and then decide.