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Coronavirus: Crisis ‘has paused Whitehall backbiting’ NewsColony Image copyright FDA Image caption Dave Penman said civil servants respected decisive ministers, even if they disagreed with them The fight against coronavirus has halted “backbiting” and “bitching” between ministers and Whitehall staff, the leader of the union representing senior civil servants has claimed. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, said everyone was “focused” on keeping infections to a minimum. But he questioned whether this meant ministers would appreciate staff more “over the long term”. Downing Street declined to comment on Mr Penman’s remarks. Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to “all of our brilliant public servants”, adding that they had “shown extraordinary courage in facing this emergency”. ‘Clarity’ Relations between ministers and senior Whitehall staff have come under increased scrutiny recently. Last month, the top Home Office civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, r...