Telling the truth is dangerous

The Government often blames its staff for things like getting projections wrong etc.

A foolish scientist yesterday was quoted as saying with regards to climate change that the problem is that Pete Hodgson “basically directed the staff to model the next target as if it had been accomplished” and “stuffed it up”.

Today he has been ordered to clear his desk and leave work.

I can’t say I am surprised. But it is a good reminder that Ministers often dictate the assumptions on which civil servants have to make forecasts. So when things go wrong and a Minister blames his or her officials, make sure you ask about what involvement the Minister had in the forecasts.