The Whitehall elite, c. 1919-1956

This thesis examines the interwar British Civil Service. It centres on the ‘elite of the elite’ – the Permanent Secretaries who presided over the most prestigious and central departments. Both officials and officialdom have hitherto been obscured by a heavy shroud which was the deliberate product of resilient official narratives. This thesis interrogates the mythology surrounding Permanent Secretaries and peers behind the arras to illuminate facets of their work and world, including their rise and fall, their relationships, their culture, and their influence on decision-making. In contrast to many previous interpretations of the Whitehall elite and the nature of decision-making, this thesis reflects on the fundamental interconnectedness of the governing elite, the importance of dependencies, and thus the need to examine networks or clusters rather than individuals. It takes as a central tenet that individuals mattered, but they mattered collectively. It argues that this generation of Permanent Secretaries were giant personalities. They were not homogenous, but heterogeneity was often constrained within narrow limits. This gave rise to a style – the Georgian style – which was male, middle-class, white, Christian, and fundamentally conservative. However, although giant personalities, these figures were not influential. This thesis demonstrates that the Whitehall elite possessed less systemic influence than first imagined, even when acting collectively. Civil Service influence in this period is therefore ultimately at greater risk of being overemphasised than underestimated. Furthermore, this thesis provides original insight into how to study power and influence. It posits that the study of power is greatly enriched by distinguishing between forms of influence. It conceptualises different types of influence – ‘obstructive’, ‘constructive’, ‘collective’, and ‘derivative’ – to nuance and deepen understandings. In this way, it distils important universal lessons on the nature of power and influence.