Close the Cabinet Office

The essay argues the Cabinet Office has morphed from neutral coordination into the 'heart of darkness' of the permanent government, constraining prime‑ministerial control through conventions of 'Cabinet government' enforced by senior officials. It proposes treating No. 10 as independent of, not subordinate to, the Cabinet Office—or abolishing the department entirely—to achieve coherent executive direction. — If the central coordinating ministry serves as a de facto veto point for unelected officials, radical restructuring becomes a live option in democratic governance debates.