Sir Chris Wormald Steps Down as UK's Top Civil Servant
Sir Chris Wormald has announced his departure from the role of Cabinet Secretary, following a mutual decision with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The move comes as part of a broader reset of Downing Street operations after recent controversies.
Third Senior Adviser to Depart in a Week
Sir Chris becomes the third of Sir Keir's senior advisers to resign within the past seven days, following chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and communications director Tim Allan. His tenure lasted just 14 months, a relatively brief period for the UK's most senior civil servant.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the Prime Minister's handling of the situation, claiming Sir Keir had thrown Sir Chris "under the bus in order to save his own skin."
Prime Minister's Statement and Future Plans
In an official statement, Sir Keir expressed gratitude for Sir Chris's 35-year career in public service, saying: "I am very grateful to Sir Chris for his long and distinguished career of public service, spanning more than 35 years, and for the support that he has given me over the past year. I have agreed with him that he will step down as Cabinet Secretary today. I wish him the very best for the future."
The Cabinet Office confirmed that Sir Keir is expected to appoint a new cabinet secretary "shortly," though Number 10 declined to comment on speculation regarding potential successors.
Dame Antonia Romeo Rumoured as Successor
Strong rumours suggest Dame Antonia Romeo, the Home Office permanent secretary, is being lined up to replace Sir Chris. She has been announced as one of three interim replacements, performing the role jointly with Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little and Treasury permanent secretary James Bowler.
Dame Antonia has built a reputation as a high-flyer in the Civil Service, having served as permanent secretary at the Department for International Trade and the Ministry of Justice before taking her current Home Office position last year.
Controversy Surrounding Potential Appointment
The speculation about Dame Antonia's potential promotion has drawn a rare intervention from former Foreign Office mandarin Lord Simon McDonald, who urged the Prime Minister to "start from scratch" with the appointment process. Lord McDonald warned against "doing the due diligence too late," referencing a 2017 investigation into Dame Antonia's expenses and bullying claims during her time as Britain's consul general in New York.
Government sources have defended Dame Antonia, with one describing her as "a disrupter" and dismissing Lord McDonald's comments as "a desperate attempt from a senior male official whose time has passed." The Cabinet Office previously cleared her of any wrongdoing in the 2017 investigation.
Sir Chris Wormald's Distinguished Career
Sir Chris's civil service career spanned more than three decades, beginning in 1991 at the Department for Education. His career progression included:
- Principal permanent secretary at the Department for Education
- Director general of local government and regeneration at what was then the Department for Communities and Local Government
- Head of the economic and domestic affairs secretariat at the Cabinet Office in 2009
- Head of the deputy prime minister's office working with Nick Clegg after the 2010 general election
- Permanent secretary at the Department for Education from 2012
- Permanent secretary at the Department for Health and Social Care from 2016, serving under seven health secretaries
He succeeded Simon Case as Cabinet Secretary in December 2024, though his appointment raised eyebrows at the time given Sir Keir's stated desire to rewire the British state.
Context of the Departure
Sir Chris's departure occurs against a backdrop of controversies surrounding the appointments of Lord Peter Mandelson and Lord Matthew Doyle, both of whom have associations with sex offenders. The Prime Minister appears to be using this opportunity to reset his Downing Street operation and address mounting political pressures.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Dame Antonia Romeo secures the permanent position or if the Prime Minister opts for a different candidate to lead the UK's civil service through this period of transition.
