Spectator's Notebook
WHAT is happening at Number 10? The im- pending departure of Mr. Derek Mitchell, ho has served with distinction as the Prime mister's Principal Private Secretary since April 1964, is unusual enough after a stint of less than wo years. Even more unusual, as far as I can ecall, is the fact that Mr. Mitchell's going has een made known before any announcement of he name of his successor in this most important ost. It certainly looks as if there's some ifference of opinion between the Prime Minister nd the Civil Service over who the right man ight be. A similar disagreement over the choice f a successor is, I believe, the only thing that is olding up the departure of Mr. Wilson's second ost important Private Secretary, Mr. Oliver right of the Foreign Office, for lusher pastures overseas.
Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Wright were already at o. 10 when Mr. Wilson first took possession of he powerhouse on October 16, 1964. Now, for he first time, the Prime Minister has the oppor- unity to create a private office in his own image. ith the recent appointment of two senior and expected civil servants to support his closest 'flicial adviser, Sir Burke Trend, at the Cabinet Nice, it looks very much as if Mr. Wilson is ovemplating the creation of a virtual Prime mister's Department along White House lines. There is much to be said for this; but the 'atance between the political and the official lements in any such staff is of crucial impor- nce. Not to put too fine a point on it, the flicial element must be strong and of the highest libre. In the United States the check to the normous executive power of the President is rovided by Congress, In Britain, with Parlia-
ment a rubber-stamp, a crucial check to a Prime Minister with quasi-presidential ambitions must be provided by the Civil Service in its role of the conscience of the Constitution. I shall watch with interest to see who is finally chosen as Mr. Mitchell's successor.
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