Go free Gove

One might object to the man for other reasons, not least the invention of the advisor called Cummings, but to my mind there is at least one thing in his favour.

Despite being a busy and very important Cabinet Minister - the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, so very historical as well, not to say historic - at least sometimes he gets out to buy his own sandwiches. Perhaps he likes to stretch his legs a bit of a morning, perhaps he likes to think he has the common touch. Whatever, I like it.

Two relevant titbits from my days at the Treasury, perhaps from more than twenty years ago now.

First, the then Chancellor, possibly Nigel Lawson, used to take his lunch in the staff canteen, along with everybody else, once or twice every week. A canteen which once used to sport a wine committee for the higher ranks and a bar - the Treasury Tap - for the lower ranks. All long since vanished.

Second, a colleague reporting from a secondment to some comparable outfit in Australia, told us that there was an important tea and bun eating ceremony every mid morning. And that everybody, including the permanent secretary, would queue at the caravans parked in the car park to buy same. It would have been thought ridiculous for the permanent secretary, be he or she ever so important, to get some flunkey to get his tea and bun for him.

Reference 1: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers.