Former Diplomat Sounds Alarm Over Cabinet Secretary Appointment
A former senior diplomat has launched a dramatic intervention to prevent Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer from appointing a controversial civil servant as the next Cabinet Secretary. Lord McDonald of Salford, who served as permanent secretary at the Foreign Office for five years until 2020, has publicly warned Number 10 against selecting Dame Antonia Romeo for the pivotal role.
Concerns Over Due Diligence and Past Allegations
Lord McDonald described the Prime Minister's plan to replace Sir Chris Wormald as Cabinet Secretary after just fourteen months as "extraordinary." He emphasised that Dame Antonia, who has been nicknamed the 'Queen of Woke,' must face rigorous scrutiny due to a past bullying investigation from her tenure as HM Consul General in New York a decade ago, although that probe ultimately found no wrongdoing.
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Lord McDonald stated: "This is the most important job in the civil service. It can’t be chosen on the fly." He drew a pointed comparison to the recent appointment of Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador despite his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, warning: "The Prime Minister has recent bitter experience of doing the due diligence too late. It would be an unnecessary tragedy to repeat that mistake."
Turmoil Surrounding Sir Chris Wormald's Tenure
If ousted, Sir Chris Wormald would be entitled to a substantial £250,000 payoff, barely a year after being selected to spearhead the government's 'rewire the state' initiative. His brief tenure has been marred by accusations of delaying reforms and conducting an insufficient investigation into Lord Mandelson's correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
When appointing Sir Chris to the £220,000-per-year position in December 2024, Sir Keir Starmer praised him as an "exceptional" choice to drive transformative change. However, persistent rumours of tensions between Number 10 and the top mandarin have surfaced, with briefings suggesting Sir Chris has been obstructing key governmental reforms.
Political Backlash and Leadership Questions
Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Gove condemned the treatment of Sir Chris Wormald as a "disgrace," highlighting his dedicated service and coherent reform programme at the Department for Education. Lord Gove added: "The PM chose Chris from a strong field and now this - it's many things but it's not leadership."
This chaotic wrangling raises significant doubts about Sir Keir Starmer's judgment as he navigates a precarious political landscape. The recent resignations of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and communications director, Tim Allan, have further destabilised the administration. Ongoing questions also persist regarding national security chief Jonathan Powell, who reportedly encouraged the Prime Minister to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.
Dame Antonia Romeo's Position and Future Prospects
Dame Antonia Romeo, a Home Office mandarin whose previous application for the Cabinet Secretary role was rejected by Sir Keir in 2024, is now the frontrunner to succeed Sir Chris Wormald. Sir Keir is said to be impressed by her management of the small boats crisis at the Home Office.
Westminster insiders suggest that Dame Antonia may not formally apply for the position again but would accept it if offered directly, bypassing a competitive process. The final decision on whether a formal recruitment process is required rests with the Civil Service Commission. Downing Street has declined to comment on the potential replacement, which could make Sir Chris Wormald one of the shortest-serving Cabinet Secretaries in recent history.
