That's just the problem with the lifers in the civil service - don't like change - won't change, everyone else is incompetent. No we don't do that -- blah blah. Its time these people were gone as they are part of the problem that stifled this country for 3 years
I don't think you understand the role of the Civil Service and its relationship with Ministers.
Ministers and in fact Governments come and go. 'Lifers' (as you call them) in the Civil Service have to provide continuity for the country.
Civil Servants provide options to Ministers
Ministers decide direction and policy
Civil Servants then have to implement that policy
It's when Ministers 'demand' impossible results, overturn previous decisions, don't understand the consequences of their decisions and then blame Civil Servants for the outcome, that we end up in this situation.
There have been some very good Tory Ministers recently. Patel isn't one of them.