A very British row

Mr Sixsmith put forward his version of events on Today

By Andrew Marr BBC political editor

If there is anything cheering about the Stephen Byers-Martin Sixsmith row it is that everyone involved is struggling to be polite to one another, at least in public.

It is as if, after an awful car crash, the shaken drivers are struggling to stay calm as they exchange insurance details

When Mr Sixsmith was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he emphasised his warm regard for Sir Richard Mottram, the permanent secretary who 'resigned' him.

He says he likes Godric Smith, the Downing Street press officer caught up in the middle of this.

Mr Smith, in turn, says he gets on well with Mr Sixsmith.

It is as if, after an awful car crash, the shaken drivers are struggling to stay calm as they exchange insurance details.

For what started as a private office power-struggle has engulfed the reputations not only of Mr Byers but of most of those at the top of the transport department, an organisation that seems about as smoothly efficient as - well - Railtrack.

Where are we left now? There are still major discrepancies between the accounts of Mr Sixsmith's removal from his job.

He told Today that he was sure Mr Byers had been behind it, despite the fact that he had done nothing wrong.

He knew this because Sir Richard had told him so.

He says Jo Moore did suggest slipping out more bad news on the fateful Friday.

He denies campaigning against her in the media.

All those points are challenged by the government.

Personnel matter?

Mr Byers has said he had nothing to do with Mr Sixsmith's removal; it was a personnel matter.

In a carefully worded statement, Sir Richard backs him up, to the extent of saying that the demanded resignation was his decision, not Mr Byers'.

Yet Downing Street says "everyone" knew that both Mr Sixsmith and Jo Moore had to go.

Number 10 also says that had they known Mr Sixsmith was leaking to the press - something he denies but journalists have accused him of - the situation would have been easier because he would simply have been sacked.

'Horrible shock'

And they absolve Jo Moore of planning to 'bury' bad news on the day of Princess Margaret's funeral: according to the official story she, it would appear, has been obliged to resign (rather like Peter Mandelson) for doing nothing wrong.

The whole affair has been a horrible shock to the New Labour establishment and has infuriated senior civil servants.

It is hard to see both Sir Richard Mottram and Mr Byers staying in their current jobs for much longer.

Mr Blair would be loathe to lose his transport secretary and close ally to the jaws of a rampaging press.

But he must despair at another fortnight lost to scandal and intrigue; and he knows that if Mr Byers had let Ms Moore go last autumn, none of this would have happened.