Has the relationship between the civil service and politicians and their advisers been permanently damaged? Matt speaks to Lord McDonald, permanent secretary at the Foreign Office until 2020, former civil servant Jill Rutter, and Hugh Bennett, former special adviser to Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Plus: Columnists Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss Rishi Sunak's lack of political energy, British women's binge drinking habits, and why politicians are bunking off work more than ever before.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.