It is clear that a significant number of civil servants are active political bloggers. Many, if not most, of them operate under nomsde plume. Civil servants are supposed to be politically impartial. Their online anonymity, however, enables them to express political points of view incompatible with their roles as public servants.
It seems however that in Greater Manchester, normal rules don’t apply and senior Local Government officers are able to express strong views about a political hot potato as frequently as they wish.
Normal Rules Don’t Apply Here
David Jones MP has an interesting story of the perils of blogging by civil servants. I found this paragraph particularly interesting.
It seems however that in Greater Manchester, normal rules don’t apply and senior Local Government officers are able to express strong views about a political hot potato as frequently as they wish.