Ministers and mandarins need to get a grip Mrs Spelman is one of those who believes government would operate far more smoothly if ministers had a much bigger say in appointing their top officials. In what sounded like a scene from Yes Minister, she said she had been allowed to meet those shortlisted for the Defra job, but not to question them. They, however, were permitted to question her. At an Institute for Government seminar, Lord Turnbull, a former cabinet secretary, told her this was "incredible" and "not true," saying: "You can't just sit there and be questioned - it's ridiculous." The discussion was saved from becoming a slanging match when both agreed that Mrs Spelman had been badly advised. But that is the trouble. All too often, ministers who are not wise in the ways of Whitehall do not have experienced officials to whom they can turn for help. Mrs Spelman, and a small but vociferous group of ministers, reckon the answer would be for them to have more say in appointing top civil servants. Yet not only would this be likely to lead to cronyism, but it would make the problem of churn worse, because every minister would want to appoint their own top official. Moreover, the idea's proponents have so far failed to explain how it would lead to a better Civil Service, or better advice for politicians. So how to stop that churn? It is not just ministers who complain. As one Whitehall knight told me: "Too much is left to the market. There's so much emphasis on outsiders coming in and on people moving on to be promoted that it is very hard to say to a bright person: 'I want you to stay in this post for five or six years." " Yet nobody in Whitehall seems to be addressing what everyone recognises as a problem. Sir Bob Kerslake is the head of the Civil Service, but as one insider says: "He doesn't have a minister... well, he has Francis Maude at the Cabinet Office, but you need a head of the Civil Service whose minister is the PM." Mr Maude, one of those who is keenest to have more say in appointments, would not have liked the dismissive tone - but the criticism is valid. Sir Bob, who came from local government and who is only a part-time head of the Civil Service, does not have the clout or experience to end the short-term, fly-by-night approach to filling senior jobs. Yet so many other difficulties seem to spring from this, whether it is politicians not knowing how to unblock policy hold-ups, or ministers proving inadequate at overseeing major projects or reforms. What is needed is an experienced, heavyweight figure with real knowledge of central government who can start to bring greater stability to Whitehall. Only then will there be any chance of restoring the confidence of politicians - and mandarins - in the system. Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, should not do it: he did not want to run the Civil Service in the first place, and he has his hands full elsewhere. Perhaps there is a case for putting a small group of senior politicians and mandarins together to look at the future of Whitehall. What is certain is that, with so many senior officials leaving, the position is becoming worse, not better. Someone needs to get a grip urgently.