The Mogcast, a fortnightly conversation with Jacob Rees-Mogg about the topics of the day.

Welcome to the 75th Mogast. This is Paul Goodman, editor of Conservative Home, in conversation with Jacob Rees-Mogg.

And Jacob, there has been something of a pause between the 74th bogast in the 75th, because we have had Easter and parliamentary recesses.

But welcome.

Thank you very much.

Yes, I have missed our regular engagement, but we always follow the parliamentary calendar.

Well, in the last Moggast book one, which I find out was as long ago as February the 22nd,

I asked you about the power of a body called the Senior Leadership Committee of the Civil Service

to authorise the appointment

of a candidate to one of the top 200 civil service jobs without having to undertake a recruitment

competition.

Now, if my memory is right, you said this area of the civil service was not really your

responsibility.

It was the responsibility of Heather Wheeler,

that this was all news to you, and it was very interesting. So, last week it was announced that all

senior civil service jobs would be advertised externally, and that ministers will have a veto

over internal recruitment competitions. So was this reason why in action?

Well, it was a decision made within the cabinet office.

And obviously that is led by the Prime Minister,

but with the Chancellor of Duchy, Steve Barclay,

being the most influential figure outside Downing Street directly, though, he's there as well.

So I think he deserves more of the credit than I do.

...