Starmer Initiates Search for New Cabinet Secretary in Downing Street Overhaul
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has commenced the formal process of appointing a new cabinet secretary following the sudden departure of Britain's most senior civil servant. Sir Chris Wormald stepped down from the pivotal role on Thursday after just fourteen months in position, with the government confirming his exit was "by mutual agreement."
Third Senior Departure in a Week Creates Leadership Void
Sir Chris becomes the third high-profile figure to leave the Government within the past seven days, following the resignations of Sir Keir's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and communications director, Tim Allan. This exodus has created significant operational gaps at the heart of British governance.
With three senior civil servants now temporarily sharing cabinet secretary responsibilities, two interim chiefs of staff in place, and no permanent communications director, Conservative shadow minister Alex Burghart delivered a stark assessment: "Britain isn't being governed." The situation has raised serious questions about administrative stability during a period of political turbulence.
Dame Antonia Romeo Emerges as Leading Contender Despite Controversy
Home Office permanent secretary Dame Antonia Romeo is widely expected to be named as Sir Chris's permanent replacement. Downing Street insiders view her as a "disrupter" who could drive significant reform within the civil service structure.
However, her potential appointment has drawn criticism from former colleagues. Lord Simon McDonald, who previously worked with Dame Antonia at the Foreign Office, has urged the Prime Minister to begin the recruitment process "from scratch" to ensure proper "due diligence" is conducted.
Dame Antonia previously faced allegations of bullying during her tenure as consul-general in New York, though she was subsequently cleared by the Cabinet Office following an investigation. Government sources have strongly dismissed Lord McDonald's concerns, describing his comments as having "absolutely no basis for this criticism" and characterizing him as "a senior male official whose time has passed."
Interim Arrangements and Historical Context of Departure
Currently, Dame Antonia is one of three civil servants temporarily fulfilling cabinet secretary duties alongside Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little and Treasury permanent secretary James Bowler. This unusual tripartite arrangement underscores the transitional nature of current Whitehall leadership.
Sir Chris's departure marks a historic milestone for the civil service. After thirty-five years of distinguished service, he now holds the unfortunate distinction of being the shortest-serving cabinet secretary in British history. His fourteen-month tenure falls significantly short of the previous record held by Sir Mark Sedwill, who served for twenty-three months under Prime Ministers Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
Financial Settlement Raises Eyebrows in Whitehall
The financial terms of Sir Chris's departure have attracted particular scrutiny. Reports indicate he received a substantial £260,000 payout as part of the agreement facilitating his exit. According to The Times, this payment required Prime Ministerial approval as it did not meet Whitehall's standard value-for-money regulations.
This settlement bears similarity to an almost £250,000 payment authorized by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson when Lord Sedwill stepped down from the cabinet secretary role in 2020. The parallel has raised questions about consistency in handling senior civil service departures across different administrations.
The shake-up comes amid broader efforts by Sir Keir Starmer to reorganize his Downing Street operation following recent political challenges, including the Peter Mandelson scandal that has prompted significant reflection on government operations and personnel.
