Top Civil Service Candidate Branded 'Shameless' Self-Promoter by Staff
The frontrunner to become the United Kingdom's next Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service has been branded a 'shameless' self-promoter by her own staff, according to newly emerged documents. Dame Antonia Romeo, currently the most senior official at the Home Office, is widely expected to take over the role following the sacking of Sir Chris Wormald last week.
Bullying Allegations and Personal Profile Concerns
Her bid for the permanent position has been overshadowed by a row over past bullying allegations dating back to her time as HM Consul General to New York in 2017. Fresh details from complaints reveal that colleagues accused her of caring more about her personal profile than her official duties.
In documents obtained by the BBC, contemporaneous testimony states: 'She's a diplomat, not a D-list celebrity. My 15-year-old, social-media-obsessed, brother is less shameless in his self-promotion.'
Among the specific claims from staff is that Dame Antonia demanded they cover the bathroom of her official New York residence with framed articles about her from Vogue magazine and the New Yorker. According to emails reported by the BBC, the intention was that 'regardless of how you use the bathroom, you have to stare at a photo of her in a magazine spread staring back at you.'
Investigation History and Controversial Findings
The initial investigation in early 2017 found she had a 'serious case to answer' after former ambassador Sir Tim Hitchens conducted a week-long probe in the US, speaking to numerous colleagues. His report was submitted to Lord Simon McDonald, then Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office, who has recently spoken out against Dame Antonia becoming Cabinet Secretary.
Despite these findings, the Cabinet Office later told her 'there is no case to answer' and merely provided advice about her management and leadership style. A source questioned this discrepancy to The Times: 'The Foreign Office did a full investigation and found a serious case to answer which the Cabinet Office then ignored. So how did they reach that conclusion when they did not do their own investigation?'
Lavish Spending and Tense Atmosphere
Additional allegations include that Dame Antonia bullied staff who criticised her lavish spending, demanding a $100,000 repainting of her official residence and costly flights back to the UK. One message claimed: 'Antonia's obsession with promoting her personal brand over the work and priorities of HMG [HM Government] has created an untenably tense and bullying atmosphere for all staff.'
Another former colleague wrote: 'I'm extremely alarmed that Antonia, who holds one of the highest diplomatic positions here in the United States, seems to be focusing an undue amount on building her personal Twitter brand.'
Substantial Payout to Predecessor Revealed
The fresh details emerged alongside revelations that the payoff to Sir Chris Wormald - who was axed as head of the civil service by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after just 14 months - is likely to have been higher than £260,000. Government disclosures state that his payout was 'greater than what [he] would be contractually entitled to,' indicating the total was more than previously reported.
Cat Little, the top official at the Cabinet Office, requested a 'ministerial direction' from the Prime Minister to approve Sir Chris's payoff because she could not assure him it represented value for money to taxpayers. In a letter to Sir Keir, she wrote: 'I am informed that a settlement of this level is necessary given that this is a departure from a high profile, unique role that has been agreed at very short notice.'
Political Context and Defense
Sir Keir Starmer is reported to want Dame Antonia to replace Sir Chris as he attempts another overhaul of his Government. She was on the shortlist to become Cabinet Secretary in December 2024 before Sir Keir opted for Sir Chris initially.
However, Lord Simon McDonald has urged the Prime Minister to start the latest recruitment process 'from scratch' to ensure proper due diligence. Meanwhile, Labour grandee Baroness Harman suggested Dame Antonia was being unfairly targeted, linking the attacks to Sir Keir's controversial appointments of Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador and Lord Doyle to a peerage.
She wrote on social media: 'Seems like the major errors in the appointment of two men (Mandelson/Doyle) are the pretext to unleash the trashing of a woman (Antonia Romeo). Failing to conduct due diligence on men doesn't justify hounding a woman.'
Government Support and Official Statements
The Government has consistently defended Dame Antonia. The Cabinet Office stated: 'One formal complaint was raised nine years ago — which was thoroughly investigated and the allegations were dismissed on the basis there was no case to answer.'
They added that while serving as consul-general in New York, Dame Antonia was on secondment from the Cabinet Office, therefore decisions about the relevant complaint were made by the Cabinet Office as standard practice.
On Monday, Sir Keir's spokesman told reporters she was an 'outstanding leader with a 25-year record of excellent public service, including having been appointed to three permanent secretary roles.' A Cabinet Office spokesperson declined to comment on individual HR matters, noting that any severance payments for senior officials would be included in their annual report and accounts published later this year.
