Keir Starmer has forced out cabinet secretary Chris Wormald after just over a year in the role, with Antonia Romeo expected to become the first woman to hold the position. The prime minister announced Wormald's departure by 'mutual consent', but Whitehall sources said he lost Starmer's confidence over the handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal and a lack of drive on civil service reform.
The move drew sharp criticism from senior civil servants and the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, who accused Starmer of throwing Wormald 'under the bus to save his own skin'. One insider described the mood as 'sulphurous', while Simon McDonald, a former permanent secretary, cautioned against an expedited appointment process for Romeo, urging thorough due diligence.
Wormald's exit is linked to controversy over Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, which exposed ties to Jeffrey Epstein. No 10 did not deny reports that Starmer overruled official objections to a £260,000 payout for Wormald via a ministerial direction. The outgoing official is likely to receive a significant sum, having earned about £200,000 annually.
The departure leaves Starmer's top team severely depleted, following the recent resignations of chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and communications director Tim Allan. Romeo, currently permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, is seen as a dynamic reformer, but allies urged Starmer to avoid rushed decisions. The Cabinet Office will temporarily split Wormald's duties between three senior officials pending a formal appointment process.
