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mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below

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keitra | 07:23 Wed 22nd Jan 2003 | Phrases & Sayings
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What does 'mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below' mean in 'Two-thirds of the nation believes the public services in general perform well'\even the arrogant civil service, mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below.'?
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Avatar Image rekstout
A mandarin was a high level civil servant in pre-communist China. It is used in a modern context to describe a high ranking civil servant who is out of touch with the modern world.

I presume the "citizen-disdaining below" are asid mandarin's subordinates who care little for the people they purport to serve.

I would guess that the entire sentence refers to Mr Blair and his cabinet.
10:16 Wed 22nd Jan 2003

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