'Horrific' consequences in implementing what this govt wants: Ex-civil servant | LBC 

I have met civil servants like Bea, and they are worth a hundred politicians and keep this country running and prevent it descending into madness.

It's truly shameful the way competent, reasonable people like this caller have been pushed out into the shadows.

What a fantastic caller, if only we had more people like this in the UK.

When Gove spouted his nonsense in the run-up to the referendum, saying “we’ve heard enough from the experts”, this caller’s voice was the one that he was silencing. Absolutely shameful.

Bea sounds like a wonderful woman and capable civil servant with dignity and honour. We need more like her.

It’s not a referendum It’s an opinion poll. Exactly!

When The Government does what it wants, it only benefits The Government or The Wealthy. The People just end up suffering.

Conservatives backed by Murdoch across 3 nations have taken it as a badge of honour to flout international law for decades now

A very intelligent and clearly experienced civil servant eloquently telling things as they are. The damage done to the UK and everyone living in it since David Cameron announced there would be a referendum on EU membership is truly appalling. The crop of fourth rate Tory politicians who now make up the cabinet, and of course Government policy, are out of their depth. This is bad enough in itself but the further harm they will do between now and the next General Election is chilling.

What a brilliant call. How refreshing to hear someone who's been there, done it and knows what it's about. I feel her pain.

Now that the Tories have destroyed the country and brexit has failed, they have resorted to blaming civil servants. This is gaslighting on an epic scale.

I have had a shouty argument with my oldest and best friend in the past over Brexit and the laat 13 years of government policy. He's never worked in the public sector, where I have. He's not an uneducated sloganist, but the lack of knowledge that he and so many like him have, staggers me. During this period of self defeating populaist policy making, we need champions and expert witness to help educate the population from self perpetuating lies and misleading opinions. Thank you for providing both.

The integrity of this lady is undeniable. ❤

43 years I served respective governments, retiring in 2020. Including I delivered EU wide accepted policy led by UK. We were admired and respected. I wouldnt work for this shower if you paid me double. The antithesis of honest, professional, integrity, competency.

They can’t fix what they don’t care what’s broken.

It's saddening to hear the voice of reason and know that nobody in the government is listening.

Wow, she is awesome. Thanks for allowing her to speak.

This lady is a perfect example of professionalism, integrity and honesty, unlike this tory government

What a wonderful contribution to the debate. She has brought into focus just how low the Tories have bought us down.

She is spot-on. I was a communications director under right and left governments, trying to prevent legislators from looking thick. Meanwhile, taxpayers did well by the public service. The work gets done, regardless.

When a government is braking the laws of the land, it's not because they want to help the public but rather they hold the public in utter contempt. In every single elections, we prove that we 100% deserve the contempt

What a fantastic caller a pleasure to listen too her.The country needs the civil service to stop the crazy Facist Tories Bea is fantastic

Bea was amazing. I heard this live but had to listen again. She says what we all think in Whitehall. there was a caller to James a year ago who spilled the beans, and this year he called to say he lost his job and his pension. I cant afford to lose that, but Bea spoke out what all of us Whithall know but are too scared to express. Thankyou Bea and thankyou James. btw James it started in 2010 with those two schoolboys it only got worse after 2016 and after 2019 it was full blown peddle to the cliff of disaster.

Thus is why the House of Lords is failing. It is supposed to be a chamber of people with skills who can advise on Bills as your caller is qualified to do.

She says Britain had a big influence on the EU , From when Britain joined up until 2014 , Britain had approximately 986 proposals accepted by all the member states and 40 knocked back, 10 of the rejected proposals happened before 2010 with the other 30 rejections occurring between 2010-2014 under Mr Cameron, Proposals = rules, regulations which eventually become Laws ,

I feel for her. We all knew it would be a disaster. And just being led into awful awfulness

Such a fantastic caller. This professionalism in the civil Service is so essential. It’s a horror to think people like this might feel pushed out or disrespected

That lady was gold! She and people like her is what’s missing, not just in Britain, but in the halls of power throughout the world. Intelligent, competent and dedicated public servants.

But the Tories have made it perfectly clear that they view the laws as something for others to follow and for them to break.

Wow James and this lady needs a full program with each other 😂 I could listen to them all day long. Also think she could talk James under the table he couldn’t stop her 😂

This lady should have a radio show - she's brilliant! If you need a stand in, give her a call. And she joined the FCO the same year as my brother. He, too, is stunned. It's worth bearing in mind that, whatever anyone feels about Thatcher, the rule of law was everything and she valued the Civil Service for their experience and expertise. Those in the present government who revered her legacy would do well to reflect on that.

Bea is one of many, many solid examples of the intelligent, objective professionalism which civil servants have brought to the job of enabling sane and efficient government for decades. Bless her. Unfortunately our government is neither sane nor efficient, and they are constantly lashing out to find targets to blame and demonise for their own absolute corruption, ineptitude and lack of humanity. Whether it's people in small boats, those who rely on food banks to survive, nurses and doctors, railway workers, people who have an 'anti-maths mindset' and now civil servants. It's our fault, all our fault, and never, ever theirs. Remember the poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller - First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me That's almost precisely the state of our nation now. And it will only get worse, because that's the nature of political and social entropy. The sleep of reason produces monsters like our last several governments. Heavens help us.

Wow, an actual expert, with actual experience, who actually knows what they are talking about. I feel like I've just seen a unicorn.

I appreciate this insight, but the more I hear the angrier I get….. Brexit was and remains shameful

If the UK Government is going to go down the route of ignoring and/or breaking international law, would Scotland have a case to leave the UK on the grounds of not being prepared to be expected to comply with UK policy in that regard?

Oddly reassuring just to know that such reasonable, competent people still live and breathe. Now how to get them into the decision-making roles that require them ….

...was that a 2pints of tea mug!? Brilliant caller!

What a *tonic* Bea is!

The Civil service is/has been outsourced to PWC, Morgan Stanley etc. I don't think we can get back the amazing Civil Servants that have already left and their wide experience and knowledge across all sectors. I Hope Bea is right though.

This just shows how bad things are

One of the best caller ever

I also wept when we left the Peace Project.

It’s impressive that she manages to stay somewhat positive while a bunch of corrupt halfwits destroys her life’s work. We should all start knitting.

Thank you Bea for reminding us all what competence, professionalism, and public service actually means. 13 years of this shower, we all need reminding.😊

What a fabulous brilliant smart well articulated caller.

Bea, doing what this government fears - telling the truth. Respect

I love this woman, the truth is painful ❤

"Competent leaders and no Charlatans." Sounds like fighting authoritarianism.

This lady should run for PM, what a legend! Moreover, it's nice to see the presenter not a war, but in awe. Brilliant interview.

Dear oh dear, someone talking sense. Whatever next? Best line? 'Get rid of this absolute shower!'

" ... what was essentially an opinion poll ... " bears repeating.

Why would people believe the Sun or the Mail over this remarkable woman?

Also worth noting as she said , civil servants won’t break international law. It’s there job to follow government instruction and make policy reality. What do you do when your boss says do this , effectively making you a criminal if you do it

Austerity and Brexit the Silent Killers in our Midst.

We always suspected it, but here is the absolute confirmation - the Conservatives deliberately avoided the learned and balanced advice of more experienced people.

Would it surprise anyone if the next voting reform to be proposed was that certain groups of people such Public Sector employess or menbers of Trade Unions should not be eligible to vote ?

ONLY A TOTAL CABBAGE CAN BECOME A CONSERVATIVE

Fantastic speaker of truth

The most respectable and intelligent caller. Women like her is what it means to be British.

Its a total disgrace that people like this are being disparaged by MPs knowing that the civil service cannot hit back or even fact check the bs they say.

This woman is amazing. Bring back Sir Humphrey Appleby a fictional character from Yes Minister.

This lady is evidence of the celebrated success of a civil service and she is splendid, but the idea of a politicised civil service is a contradiction in terms. This was a precious broadcast of a precious lady

The comment was exactly what I was thinking... He wanted to ask a question but she was making great points and didn't want to interrupt her cause her points were truely valid. I am Canadian and this mentality is bleeding into our culture and I am truely scared for the the fate of the our countries. Its sad to say but the boomers have to pass on for alot of this to go away.

Absolutely spot on.

For sale: Small country. Nice scenery. Sea views. Utterly broken. £350.

Not too many people keep James quiet what a lady, a huge loss to the British civil service

Civil servants have an ethical responsibility to act in the best interests of the United Kingdom and the citizens of the United Kingdom.

We were an honourable country before this government, they're dragging us so far down, we should take to the streets, I'd take part but who'd notice in North Cheshire.

It’s wonderful to hear someone from the civil service who actually knew what they were doing, like most of them I assume. Unfortunately they must have been tearing their hair out trying to work out what this government has been doing.

Just read an article about the government,s contracts with Infosys Sunaks father in-laws company who Sunaks wife has shares In worth twelve million each year and the government only started using Infosys in 2015 when Sunak became an MP in Westminster,they had not used them before. Can you maybe do a show about this .

I loved this woman, she needs a regular slot on LBC ❤

Pffft, _"we've all had enough of experts!"_ Amirite. /sarcasm 🙄 She's _exactly_ the sort of expert they should have consulted and bl00dy-well _LISTENED_ to! 🤬

This caller has more marbles left than the cabinets since her retirement have had between them. 😢

I live in NZ now and can’t believe how bad it’s become in the UK. I think the picture of Rees Mog lying across the bench in the House of Commons kind of Sums up the lack of respect for the British system and above all the British people. Remember with politicians body language is all.

As an ex Public Servant it was wonderful to hear from this lady. Under Thatcher I felt as if she had declared war on decent, honest and under paid staff just trying to do as the Government demanded. What the current shower are doing is appalling, and certainly not patriotic or worthy of our country or our people.

Thank you to this lady for telling us all how without Civil Servants this government would have us all in an even more miserable state. This Tory government is the worst ever in my adult life to date.

Why oh why couldn't we have had voices like this woman's aired prior to that disaster in 2016! Brexit has caused so much incalculable harm. 😢

Absolutely right.

A question to someone who knows about criminal behaviour. Could a charge of, attempting to pervert the course of justice, be bought in the case of the government legislating to break international law or national law?

LBC should get this lady in to host her own show. Get her to interview the Tory politicians and shred them.

What a marvelous lady.Much respect to her.This is what you get from the Tory Government riding roughshod over the professionals.They think they are better than decades of experience.

Thankyou for stating what everybody should have researched before voting and saving us so much hurt and damage.

Brilliant broadcast.Bea's insights are superb.It's great when you have a caller who really knows what they 're talking about.

Let's not forget if the Civil Service was listened to Windrush and scandal would not be linked together.

WOW that caller was breathtaking.

You know, if the electorate had actually researched, rather than listening to Cummings, Cameron, Johnson... it really wasn't that hard a decision. Still gutted

Bang on! This caller should have her own show. Great stuff O’Brien, thank you.

Seems more like a scorched earth policy with every week that passes

When an organisation becomes unbearable to work for, it survives but the talent leaves. Brexit is untenable, so the talent and competence left the government (or were sacked).

The UK's problem is that its electoral system discourages voters from exercising that right, first by enabling an MP to be elected with less than an absolute majority of votes cast and second by requiring those voters to prove their identity after having done so already when registering to vote. An alternative government has to remedy these defects, else what has happened could happen again. When we could have stopped it.

A ship that's on fire. The question is if we turn it around on time.

What a GREAT phone call! She GETS it.....

This is what a real patriot sounds like

The UK won't be able to rejoin the EU for at least 25 years, probably 30 or more. And each year that we are outside the Single Market and Customs' Union, So yes, the damage to the UK from both the hard Brexit and from 13 years of Tory economic mismanagement and austerity measures, leading to zero growth, and economic sstagnation is indeed huge. And the Tories will be in power for at least another year. Honestly, the bd news just keeps on coming...

"Speaking truth to power"

I so agree with this lady ,This is what UK is all about not de charlatans we have now in power filling there pockets to no end Please have an elected lot there .

What an amazing caller

And I thought that I had a tea bucket! That mug is ginormous!

Without an educated population, how do get people to understand?

shes asking almost impossible things if she wants a truthfull politician in charge