The sudden departure of a top civil servant has sparked a heated debate about the future of Whitehall's leadership. But here's where it gets controversial: is the process to replace Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald being rushed, and could it lead to a misstep in appointing his successor? A former top official is sounding the alarm, urging Downing Street to hit the brakes and conduct a more thorough vetting process.
Sir Simon McDonald, the ex-permanent secretary of the Foreign Office, has publicly called on No. 10 to exercise ‘more due diligence’ in selecting Wormald’s replacement. He argues that the process should start anew, emphasizing the critical importance of this role in steering government operations. In a recent interview with Channel 4 News, McDonald stated, ‘The due diligence needs to be thorough. If the candidate mentioned in the media is the one, in my view, the due diligence has some way still to go.’
And this is the part most people miss: the announcement of Wormald’s departure, initially expected on Wednesday, was abruptly delayed. Government insiders reveal that a new cabinet secretary won’t be named immediately, and the role will be temporarily split among acting officials. Despite Antonia Romeo, the permanent secretary at the Home Office, being widely tipped as the frontrunner, sources insist it’s not a ‘done deal.’ Romeo was previously deemed appointable a year ago, but other candidates, including Tamara Finkelstein (now outside the civil service) and Olly Robbins (formerly of the Foreign Office), remain in the mix.
Romeo’s profile stands out as a dynamic figure, breaking the mold of traditional civil service leadership—a stark contrast to Wormald, whose departure is partly attributed to concerns about his ability to drive reform in Whitehall. She gained respect within the civil service for her bold warning to then-Justice Secretary Dominic Raab over behavior that later led to bullying allegations. Her work has also impressed figures like Shabana Mahmood at the Home Office.
However, here’s where the controversy deepens: Romeo’s tenure as consul general in New York in 2017 has come under scrutiny. Questions arose about her spending during that period, though a Cabinet Office investigation cleared her of any wrongdoing. When asked about this on Channel 4, McDonald suggested he’d like to see No. 10 address these concerns through its vetting process. A government source countered, ‘There is absolutely no basis for this criticism. Antonia Romeo is a highly respected permanent secretary with a 25-year record of excellent public service. The allegations stem from a single grievance made years ago by a former employee, all of which were dismissed.’
A Cabinet Office spokesperson declined to comment on speculation surrounding Wormald’s departure or Romeo’s potential promotion. But the question remains: Is the government moving too quickly, or is this a necessary shake-up for Whitehall? What do you think? Is thorough due diligence being overlooked, or is this a fair and transparent process? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
