Starmer Faces Whitehall Backlash Over Planned Ouster of Cabinet Secretary
The UK government is bracing for an announcement as soon as Thursday confirming the departure of Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, just 14 months into the role, sparking a backlash within Whitehall. The move, orchestrated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has ignited controversy and raised questions about the stability of the civil service, with Dame Antonia Romeo, the Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, widely considered the frontrunner to succeed him.
The impending exit of Wormald, who was appointed in December 2024, would make him the shortest-serving cabinet secretary in the post’s 110-year history. This decision comes amidst a wider reset of Starmer’s administration following a recent unsuccessful attempt to oust the prime minister, and follows the resignations of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and communications director, Tim Allan, in the past week.
However, the selection of Romeo, who would be the first female cabinet secretary, is not without its detractors. Sir Simon McDonald, former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office, publicly questioned the thoroughness of the vetting process, stating on Channel 4 that her promotion would suggest “the due diligence still has some way to go.” He revealed he had contacted the government earlier in the day offering to contribute to any vetting process, but had yet to receive a response.
McDonald referenced past allegations concerning Romeo’s conduct while serving as consul-general in New York between 2016 and 2017, involving claims of bullying and questionable expense reports. While the Cabinet Office dismissed these allegations at the time “on the basis there was no case to answer,” McDonald’s intervention has amplified concerns.
A senior official dismissed McDonald’s criticism as a “desperate attempt from a senior male official whose time has passed,” while simultaneously championing Romeo as a “disrupter” who would bring “exactly the leadership the civil service needs to embrace systemic reform to rewire the state, take on vested interests and deliver for the British people.” The Cabinet Office reiterated its confidence in Romeo, describing her as a “highly respected permanent secretary with a 25-year record of excellent public service” and reaffirming that the previous allegations stemmed from a single, dismissed grievance.
The situation has exposed deep divisions within the government. Some officials believe Starmer’s original appointment of Wormald was a misstep, arguing he lacked the drive for the radical overhaul of Whitehall that the Prime Minister had promised. According to Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, “Chris is obviously a highly accomplished civil servant and a policy brain, but his management style is not one of radical reform and changes to the structures of Whitehall. That’s what’s played out now.”
Further complicating matters, speculation has emerged linking Wormald’s departure to his oversight of the vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US, with documents related to this process expected to be released soon.
Briefings against Wormald, reportedly originating from Starmer’s office, have left some senior officials “very emotional and raw,” according to one mandarin. These officials contend that any perceived failures in policy delivery stem from Starmer’s inability to articulate a clear vision for Whitehall, and vehemently deny suggestions that Wormald was involved in a “toxic ‘boys’ club’ culture.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy addressed the issue of “toxic briefings” in Westminster, acknowledging that “it’s still going on, I’m absolutely acknowledging that,” and characterizing them as “dripping with misogyny.” She also criticized Labour’s record, stating it was “unforgivable” that the party had “not done enough.”
Dave Penman, General Secretary of the FDA, the trade union representing senior civil servants, warned that the government had failed to “learn the lessons from the Cummings era,” referencing the attacks on the civil service during the Boris Johnson administration. He questioned the message this sends to current and prospective civil servants.
Baroness Gisela Stuart, the first civil service commissioner, will ultimately sign off on Wormald’s successor, but Starmer is not legally required to undertake a lengthy selection process. The unfolding events underscore a period of significant upheaval within the UK government, raising concerns about the future direction and stability of the civil service.
