Nebbish

Now I really, really want to understand this: I would like to get inside the head of that person – that self-important, officious nebbish of a council official – who actually believes that these are appropriate uses of the anti-terror legislation designed to prevent mass murder.

Great to see the word "nebbish" being used here. There are a number of possible meanings, putz, twit, self important git, but none of them quite capture the full meaning.

It was once explained to me thus: someone with so little personality that when they leave the room you feel as if someone has just entered it.