Dame Antonia Romeo is set to be Cabinet Secretary because she will co-operate with the Prime Minister’s wish to restrict the release of Mandelson files, senior Whitehall officials have said.
Sources claim the removal of Sir Chris Wormald was driven by Sir Keir Starmer‘s desire to keep a ‘tight grip’ on the private messages released in relation to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
MPs forced the Government to release the documents after a criminal investigation was launched into claims Mandelson passed sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Sources say this has left Sir Keir worrying the messages will reveal the extent of Mandelson’s hold over the Government.
Officials say Sir Chris was removed because he was taking a too ‘liberal’ interpretation of what files could be released.
A senior Whitehall official said: ‘Part of the reason there has been such a reaction to Chris’s sacking is that many people believe he was removed because No 10 want to suppress the files’ release.’
Another source said: ‘The release of the documents is being controlled within an inch of its life. Keir thinks he might be able to survive if he can suppress the most damaging files, and that’s what Antonia would be expected to do’.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘Antonia Romeo is an outstanding leader with a 25-year record of excellent public service. The process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary will be agreed by the First Civil Service Commissioner.’
Dame Antonia Romeo is set to be Cabinet Secretary because she will co-operate with the Prime Minister’s wish to restrict the release of Mandelson files, senior Whitehall officials have said
MPs forced the Government to release the documents after a criminal investigation was launched into claims Mandelson passed sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein
Sources claim the removal of Sir Chris Wormald was driven by Sir Keir Starmer’s desire to keep a ‘tight grip’ on the private messages released in relation to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador
The dread of No 10 officials was highlighted by its ‘mental’ reaction to Health Secretary Wes Streeting taking the decision to release his private exchanges with Mandelson, in which he said he thinks he is ‘toast’ at the next election and said there was ‘no [economic] growth strategy’.
A Whitehall source said: ‘The reason they went mental at Wes is he ruined the disclosure threshold. They believe they can limit the release of the files to only those specifically related to Mandelson’s appointment, not his wider involvement in the Government.’
A minister said: ‘They know there will be a big row, and allegations of a cover up. But they prefer that to the release of the documents, which they believe will prove fatal to Keir.’
Tory Cabinet Office spokesman Alex Burghart said: ‘Starmer must hand the full, unfiltered material to the intelligence and security committee without delay.’