Boris Johnson has questioned tighter restrictions on civil servants’ right to speak to journalists.
New guidelines published last week say that ministerial approval should be sought before officials have any contact with the media. The Cabinet Office says the change to the civil service code merely clarifies existing rules, but the move has been attacked by journalists and civil servants’ unions.
The Mayor of London told the Daily Mail: "When I look back at my time in City Hall, it’s quite incredible how I took over an operation staffed overwhelmingly by people who didn’t share my political views. They have been loyal. Do we get people trying to brief the media? Absolutely not.
"Most civil servants understand that there’s a difference between being useful and helping public debate, and undermining the operation that they are in. I’m in favour of transparency."