Sir Chris Wormald, the country’s top civil servant, has stepped down from his role in No10, making it the third high-profile exit from Downing Street this week as Keir Starmer looks to revamp his administration following recent turmoil. The PM’s chief-of-staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned over the weekend in the aftermath of the Peter Mandelson scandal, while No10’s director of communications, Tim Allan, also departed on Monday. Both McSweeney and Allan were political appointees.
In an announcement today, Sir Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary and most senior civil servant, confirmed his departure from the government. In his statement, he expressed gratitude for his 35-year career as a civil servant and his leadership role as Cabinet Secretary. He commended the dedication of civil servants, public servants, ministers, and advisors he had the privilege to work with, wishing them success in the future.
The Cabinet Office reported that Sir Chris left his position through “mutual agreement,” despite holding the role for just over a year. His responsibilities will be divided among three other senior civil servants until a new Cabinet Secretary is selected. Dame Antonia Romeo, the current Home Office permanent secretary, is widely expected to take over the position.
Keir Starmer thanked Sir Chris for his extensive public service career spanning over three decades and the support provided during the past year. It was agreed that Sir Chris would step down as Cabinet Secretary that day, with best wishes for his future endeavors.
However, the FDA union, representing senior civil servants, criticized his departure as a detrimental development in the government’s relationship with Whitehall staff. FDA General Secretary Dave Penman expressed disappointment in the treatment of Sir Chris Wormald, calling it a significant setback for the government’s ties with the civil service.
Sir Chris, who succeeded Simon Case as Cabinet Secretary, joined the civil service in 1991 and later held leadership roles, including heading ex-Deputy PM Nick Clegg’s office after the 2010 general election. He also served as the permanent secretary at the Department for Health and Social Care, working under various Health Secretaries, including Matt Hancock during the pandemic.
Following his resignation, some bereaved families affected by the pandemic welcomed the news. A spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK expressed satisfaction with Sir Chris Wormald’s resignation, emphasizing concerns about his actions during the pandemic and the need for accountability.
This information is collected through cookies and similar identifiers.
