Tories Accuse Starmer of Throwing Top Civil Servant 'Under a Bus' Over Expected Dismissal
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of throwing his Cabinet Secretary "under a bus" with the expected imminent dismissal of Sir Chris Wormald. The row has erupted amid speculation about who could take up the crucial role as head of the civil service, with Dame Antonia Romeo, the Home Office permanent secretary, rumoured to be the favoured replacement.
Controversy Surrounds Appointment Process
Sir Chris Wormald is believed to be on his way out as the Prime Minister seeks to reset his Downing Street operation following controversies surrounding the appointments of Lord Peter Mandelson and Lord Matthew Doyle, both of whom have associations with sex offenders. Downing Street declined to "comment on speculation" when asked to confirm whether Sir Chris remained in place on Thursday, adding fuel to the political fire.
The expected departure comes after the recent exits of Sir Keir's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and communications chief Tim Allan, signalling a significant reshuffle at the highest levels of government. Rumours that the Labour leader intends to replace Sir Chris with Dame Antonia triggered a highly unusual warning from former top mandarin Lord Simon McDonald, who cautioned against "doing the due diligence too late."
Badenoch's Intervention and Calls for Proper Process
In a letter to the Civil Service Commission, Mrs Badenoch seized on Lord McDonald's intervention, writing: "It is hard to escape the conclusion that the Cabinet Secretary is simply the latest person to be thrown under a bus by this Prime Minister." She expressed particular concern about changing the Cabinet Secretary amidst the ongoing scandal over Lord Mandelson's appointment and conduct in office.
Mrs Badenoch urged the commission to advise Sir Keir to delay any sacking until the disclosure of Government files relating to Lord Mandelson – overseen by the Cabinet Secretary – is complete. She also emphasised that the probe led by the top civil servant into the former UK ambassador to Washington's contact with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein should be concluded first.
Key demands from Badenoch's letter include:
- Delaying Sir Chris's dismissal until investigations are complete
- Conducting a full new appointment process
- Ensuring any replacement can demonstrate impartiality
Lord McDonald's Warning and Government Response
Lord McDonald told Channel 4 News: "This is the most important job in the civil service. It can't be chosen on the fly." He added that if the Prime Minister wants a new Cabinet Secretary, he needs to start from scratch, warning: "The Prime Minister has recent bitter experience of doing the due diligence too late. It would be an unnecessary tragedy to repeat that mistake."
A Government source defended the situation, stating there was "absolutely no basis for this criticism" and praising Dame Antonia as "a highly respected permanent secretary with a 25-year record of excellent public service." A second source went further, describing the criticism as "a desperate attempt from a senior male official whose time has passed" and praising Dame Antonia as "a disrupter" who fights against bureaucratic culture.
Background and Implications
Sir Chris's expected departure would come just 14 months after he was named the UK's top civil servant and the Prime Minister's most senior policy adviser. His appointment as a career civil servant raised eyebrows at a time when Sir Keir was pushing a desire to rewire the British state, making his potential dismissal particularly significant.
No 10 would not confirm whether Sir Chris remained in his job or whether the search for his replacement would involve a full vetting process and interviews. The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "I'm not going to comment on speculation. In terms of process more generally, there is a process, as you know, for appointing cabinet secretaries. It's overseen by an independent Civil Service Commission, and that's well established."
The controversy highlights deepening tensions between the government and civil service, with implications for how major appointments are handled and the independence of the UK's administrative machinery during a period of political turbulence.
