It is hard to overstate the anger in the senior ranks of the civil service at the summary sacking of Sir Tom Scholar as permanent secretary to the Treasury, anger that is likely to make the new government’s job even more difficult than it was already.

Partly, of course, it is outrage at the treatment of another well-liked and respected member of the mandarin class. Partly it reflects concerns about the politicisation of the British civil service where, unlike in the American model, senior officials are supposed, as the name suggests, to be permanent, providing continuity and independent advice to ministers.