The Cabinet Office internal computer system has a message board where staff can chat. As in most organisations it’s mostly people moaning about the IT system, but occasionally an interesting conversation can develop. Guido understands that since Monday morning someone in the Cabinet Office has been trying to start a thread discussing the problem of workplace bullying, a legitimate concern given the recent staff survey found seven per cent of Cabinet Office employees (that includes the bunker bods) had been bullied and more than half were afraid to express concerns to senior staff.

Yet for some reason the internal communications team are refusing to allow the thread to be published. Intriguing…