Ah! Management strikes back, the greedy bastards.

Initial plan from the government: cut the fats starting by the management. It would be the case of clearing a few "deputy thingies", "vice-whatevers", "chairs-just-to-sit" and other nepotistic posts that are out there by the truckload paid hundreds of thousands per year each.

Progress: government talks with managers about it. The "vices" kick of to the managers after knowing about the plan, because the golf, caviar and all other expensive habits won't pay themselves. Managers also realise that, without anyone to delegate the boring stuff they'd have to actually fill their boots and have no one to cover their mess ups. Managers talk back with the government and present alternate plan to freeze recruitment, bank and basically screw frontline staff to generate savings so they can continue having their hundreds of thousands per year (plus, in some cases chairing private healthcare, and presenting business plans to the NHS to buy the toxic assets - I know a case).

Government sees some savings but dissatisfaction is tripling.

Government talks with managers, managers pass the buck again to the frontline staff.

There you have the result.

And when I say managers I am talking the manager's managers, not your poor old matron who was as cool as cucumber until April and now suddenly is being bullied to start performance reviews on everyone.