Sir Chris Wormald is the third senior figure to leave Downing Street since Sunday and as Keir Starmer seeks to reboot his government after a week of turmoil
The country’s most senior civil servant Sir Chris Wormald has stood down from his post in No10.
It marks the third departure of a senior figure in Downing Street since Sunday and as Keir Starmer seeks to reboot his government after a week of turmoil.
The PM’s chief-of-staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned over the weekend amid the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal. No10 director of communications, Tim Allan, also quit on Monday. Both Mr McSweeney and Mr Allan were political appointees.
But in a statement today, Sir Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary and most senior civil servant, also announced his departure from the heart of government.
In a statement, he said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a civil servant for the past 35 years, and a particular distinction to lead the Service as Cabinet Secretary.
“I want to place on record my sincere thanks to the extraordinary civil servants, public servants, ministers, and advisers I have worked with. Our country is fortunate to have such dedicated individuals devoted to public service, and I wish them every success for the future.”
The Cabinet Office said Sir Chris had stood down by “mutual agreement” – despite holding the role for just 14 months.
His post will be shared by three other senior civil servants until a new Cabinet Secretary is appointed.
They include Dame Antonia Romeo, the current Home Office permanent secretary, who has been widely tipped to take over the Whitehall reins.
Mr Starmer added: “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.”
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