Bold rewording begins now: Keir Starmer has removed Chris Wormald from his post as cabinet secretary, signaling a leadership shake-up that could bring Antonia Romeo into the role as the first woman to hold it. The prime minister announced on Thursday that Wormald would be stepping down by mutual consent after a little more than a year in office, and it’s anticipated he’ll receive a substantial severance given his roughly £200,000-a-year salary.
The Cabinet Office confirmed that a selection process will begin to appoint Wormald’s successor. In the interim, three senior officials – Antonia Romeo, Cat Little, and James Bowler – will share the responsibilities of the role.
Whitehall insiders say Romeo is the likely choice, provided she clears the civil service commissioner’s formal approvals. She was considered an appointable candidate a year ago. Romeo is seen as a dynamic official who operates outside the traditional civil service mold, contrasting with Wormald, who faced criticism over his suitability to lead Whitehall reforms.
Starmer is expected to appoint Romeo, though he faces a warning from former Foreign Office official Simon McDonald about the need for more due diligence and a full appointment process. Romeo, who is currently the permanent secretary at the Home Office, has previously drawn scrutiny over her spending while serving as consul-general in New York in 2017, during her time at the Foreign Office under McDonald. A Cabinet Office inquiry later cleared her of wrongdoing. McDonald suggested discussing the matter with No. 10 during its vetting process when asked about it on Channel 4.
Supporters of Romeo defend her strongly. One minister argued that Britain has long aimed to overturn conventional rules and that Romeo embodies the change the country needs: she is restless, focused, creative, and understands the scale of national crises. The minister added that the civil service requires bold leadership in these times, and criticized critics who label women as “ambitious” while men in power evade scrutiny. In the wake of past scandals involving establishment figures, the minister questioned whether another group of senior men should tarnish a capable woman’s reputation.
A government source stressed there is no basis for the criticism, calling Romeo a highly respected permanent secretary with a 25-year record of excellent public service, and noting that the allegations stem from a lone, old grievance from a former employee that was dismissed for lack of a case. Romeo has also earned backing within the civil service for standing up to Dominic Raab over bullying behavior when he was justice secretary, and she remains well-regarded by Home Office colleagues such as Shabana Mahmood.
Starmer appointed Wormald to cabinet secretary in late 2024 even though the panel had recommended Tamara Finkelstein, who has since left the civil service. Wormald expressed pride in his 35-year civil service career and gratitude to colleagues and ministers, noting the privilege of leading the service and wishing everyone success ahead.
Starmer publicly thanked Wormald for his long service and confirmed the decision for him to step down today. He also acknowledged Wormald’s contributions over more than 35 years and wished him well.
No. 10 has faced criticism over how the departure was handled, with Wormald’s allies claiming he was poorly treated and learned of his firing through media channels. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, described the briefing against Wormald as extraordinary and chilling for the civil service, arguing that it undermines not just the individual but the cabinet secretary role and the government’s governance as a whole.
