Keir Starmer has appointed Antonia Romeo as the cabinet secretary, making her the first woman to hold the UK’s most senior civil service role in its 110-year history.
Romeo, the longest-serving permanent secretary in the civil service, has held top roles at the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for International Trade. She led the official response to the 2024 summer riots and has a reputation as a reformer, though she faced a bullying allegation during her time as consul general in New York in 2017, of which she was cleared.
She replaces Chris Wormald, who left last week after being seen as ineffective by senior figures in No 10. Romeo had been shortlisted for the job when Simon Case left but lost out to Wormald in the final round. Starmer called her 'an outstanding public servant, with a 25-year record of delivering for the British people,' and praised her professionalism and determination.
Romeo described her appointment as a 'huge privilege' and said the civil service 'should be known for delivery, efficiency and innovation.' Former permanent secretary Lord McDonald criticised the appointment, saying more due diligence was needed, but No 10 said full vetting had already taken place and the civil service commissioner confirmed the process did not need to be re-run.
