Keir Starmer Personally Authorises £260,000 Severance for Ousted Civil Service Head
Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly intervened to approve a substantial £260,000 pay-off for the departing head of the civil service, despite officials reportedly questioning the justification for such expenditure. The revelation comes after days of governmental confusion regarding the status of Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, culminating in last night's announcement that he would step down 'by mutual agreement'.
A Dramatic Reversal in Whitehall Leadership
This development represents a remarkable turnaround from just fourteen months prior, when Sir Keir personally appointed Sir Chris to the prestigious position, praising him as the ideal candidate to fundamentally reform and 'rewire the British state'. The Prime Minister's swift change in stance has ignited significant political debate and raised questions about the stability within the highest echelons of government.
According to reports from The Times, civil servants initially hesitated to proceed with the lucrative severance arrangement until they received explicit 'direction' from the Prime Minister's office. This formal mechanism is typically invoked when officials harbour doubts about the financial justification of a proposed action, thereby shifting ultimate responsibility onto elected politicians.
Controversy Surrounds the Prospective Successor
Sir Keir now confronts mounting challenges concerning his apparent favoured candidate to fill the vacant role: Home Office senior official Antonia Romeo. Dame Antonia, who was previously overlooked for the position in December 2024, has a contentious professional history that includes a past investigation into allegations of bullying and misuse of expenses during her tenure as Consul General in New York. Although she was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing following that probe, the shadow of these accusations persists.
Adding to the controversy, former Foreign Office chief Lord McDonald of Salford disclosed that he had contacted Number 10 to caution against appointing Dame Antonia without conducting a proper, transparent recruitment process. He publicly stated to Channel 4 News that, in his view, 'the due diligence has some way still to go' regarding her potential appointment.
Interim Arrangements and Government Defence
During an interim period, Sir Chris Wormald's substantial responsibilities will be distributed among the heads of three major Whitehall departments:
- Cat Little from the Cabinet Office
- James Bowler from the Treasury
- Dame Antonia Romeo from the Home Office
The Government has stated that a permanent replacement for Sir Chris will be announced 'shortly', though the selection process remains under intense scrutiny. Westminster insiders suggest that Dame Antonia may not formally apply for the role again and would likely only accept the position if it were offered to her directly, bypassing a competitive selection procedure.
In response to the criticism, a Government source firmly defended the process, asserting: 'There is absolutely no basis for this criticism. The allegations all come from a single grievance made some time ago by a former employee. All were dismissed.'
Political Fallout and Ministerial Statements
Water Minister Emma Hardy, representing the government in broadcast interviews this morning, robustly denied suggestions that Sir Chris had been made a 'scapegoat' for any perceived failures of the Prime Minister. She paid tribute to his '35 years as a civil servant', describing his entire career as 'dedicated to public service' and expressing her 'huge amount of respect' for his contributions.
When questioned about the recent spate of high-profile departures from Government, Minister Hardy explained that Sir Keir is 'keen to look at his team and make sure that we have the team we need to deliver on the priorities this year', particularly emphasising the government's focus on reducing the cost of living. She reiterated her respect for all departing officials while framing their exits as mutual decisions to 'move on and try something else'.
The Civil Service Commission is now poised to determine whether a formal recruitment competition is necessary for the permanent appointment, placing Sir Keir's decision-making authority on a precarious 'knife edge'. This unfolding saga highlights the complex interplay between political leadership, bureaucratic tradition, and public accountability at the heart of British governance.
