Sir Derek Andrews

Civil servant who gave nothing away Sir Derek Andrews was a permanent secretary of the old school. He would argue fearlessly with ministers then implement their decisions with complete dedication, whether he agreed with them or not Nobody outside government — and very few inside — knew his opinions on policy or the merits or otherwise of the ministers he served. Discretion was paramount: his ojlly recollection of his time as temporary principal secretary to Edward Heath was that when Heath arrived in Downing Street in 1970 after his surprising election victory he looked “a little selfconscious” as he sat in the prime minister’s chair in the cabinet room. About life at No 10 with Harold Wilson, Andrews revealed almost nothing. As...