The rudeness of refusing a request that is improper to grant is a very venial offence.

There is no precedent for the queen refusing a request by her prime minister under these circumstances, Rees-Mogg told the BBC.

But that conscience was a very easy one, being almost as incapable of seeing a joke as of refusing a request.

Israel has refused to disclose details of the case, refusing a request for information from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Refusing a request from someone senior is not easy, but always being the yes-person brings you perilously close to becoming the office doormat.