Public services play an essential role in society, and yet their image is often poor, fed by television programmes such as 'Yes Minister'. Common perceptions include that they have little real merit, do not work hard, are too powerful, are impossible to dismiss, and could benefit from some private sector experience. This study considers how the maligned career service model of public sector employment has evolved. It outlines the traditional model, with its tenets of merit, tenure, standardised conditions and political neutrality, administered by an independent personnel agency. It explores...