It’s all kicking off tonight over at Transport as the suspended civil servant Kate Mingay, the Director of Commercial and Technical Services, has gone very rogue and is denying everything:

“While it has been widely reported in the context of the award of the franchise for the West Coast Mainline that I have been suspended, my role has been inaccurately portrayed mainly due to statements and other comment made by the Department for Transport itself. I would like to make it clear that:

•  I did not have lead responsibility for this project;

•  Neither I nor any member of my team had any responsibility for the economic modelling for this project, or for any Department for Transport project;

•  Nor did I have any responsibility for the financial modelling in respect of this project;

I have not been involved in briefing Department for Transport ministers or other government ministers in respect of this project.

I will of course cooperate fully with all ongoing and future investigatory processes in relation to this matter, but wanted to correct the completely inaccurate portrayal of my role immediately.”

If she didn’t lead on the project who did, and why were they not suspended?