This week the government quietly announced its preferred candidate for the top Whitehall post of Commissioner for Public Appointments: an ideological ally who has been accused of right-wing, anti-Muslim bias in a previous job.
If the nomination is confirmed, then William Shawcross will hold one of the most powerful roles in the British state. The Commissioner for Public Appointments oversees the allocation of senior jobs in over 300 agencies and quangos across government, including in areas such as defence, health and social care.
Of course, many leaders want to surround themselves with officials who share their outlook. But Boris Johnson’s determination to remove possible dissenters is unprecedented.
