Believe some of what has been written about Dominic Raab's resignation and you would think our civil service is plagued by a snowflake culture in which officials, including those operating at the most senior levels, are unable to work at the standard or pace required by ambitious ministers.

Anonymous briefings have gone further, challenging the impartiality of the civil service and suggesting that the deputy Prime Minister was brought down by activist officials who opposed him politically. One thing's for sure, an inquiry established to investigate claims of bullying has stepped into much more contentious territory.