In the good old days, the period before a general election was an easy time for civil servants. The ministers were away campaigning, parliament was in recess (none of those tedious parly questions) and government announcements were verboten. It was a time for catching up with the filing, for taking one's secretary to lunch, or even for a spot of leave. The only serious task was preparing notes for incoming ministers. These consisted of brief essays on the major manifesto commitments of the two major parties, explaining to the new (or returning) ministers why such and such a political commitment was arrant nonsense, why it would require extensive consultation and why its implementation would have to await a period of mature reflection.
It's not so easy nowadays. Sir John Elvidge and the Executive bosses are insisting that individual notes are to be prepared for each manifesto commitment in each of the manifestos of the five main parties (including - believe it or not - the Greens). Each note has to be tailored to a specific format and then entered into the Executive's super-duper (if barely functional) computer system, known as Brix for Incoming Ministers. Given that the Labour manifesto amounted to over 100 pages, while that of the SNP occupies 80 pages, this is proving to be a herculean task. But, never mind, it means that at the snap of his fingers Sir John can churn out pages and pages and pages of analysis to keep his new masters (whoever they may be) happy. Admittedly, much of what is prepared will be totally redundant, given that not all five parties are likely to be in government and that, in the inevitable event of a coalition, a number of manifesto pledges are likely to be unceremoniously dumped. And ministers (at least if they are like the last lot) are not renowned for their reading ability.
But, hey, it keeps the lads and the lasses busy and out of mischief.
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