In a significant development at the heart of British government, Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary and most senior civil servant in Downing Street, is understood to be negotiating the terms of his departure from Number 10. This potential exit would mark him as the third key senior staff member to leave within a matter of days, following the recent departures of Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, and Tim Allan, his Communications Director.
Pressure Mounts on Wormald Amid Government Turmoil
Sources have revealed to the Guardian that Wormald's negotiations come as part of a broader shakeup within Keir Starmer's operation, following one of the most dramatic 48-hour periods of the Prime Minister's tenure. Appointed just over a year ago at the end of 2024, Wormald has faced mounting pressure for several months, with some close to Starmer reportedly viewing his appointment as "disastrous".
One government insider stated that "the writing is on the wall" for Wormald, as Starmer seeks to reassert his authority over both the parliamentary party and the wider government after recent turbulence. Another source indicated that Wormald is in discussions about potentially taking a seat in the House of Lords as part of his exit arrangement.
From Safe Choice to Controversial Figure
Wormald's appointment followed his previous role as lead civil servant in the health department, succeeding Simon Case. He was selected from a shortlist of four candidates that included:
- Olly Robbins, now permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office
- Antonia Romeo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice
- Tamara Finkelstein, former permanent secretary at the environment department
Initially seen as the safest choice among the candidates, Starmer had praised Wormald's "wealth of experience" at the time of his appointment. However, government insiders have since expressed frustration at what they perceive as Wormald's reluctance to embrace major civil service reform, with some accusing him of "hand-wringing" about problems rather than developing concrete solutions.
Broader Downing Street Reshuffle Underway
The potential departure of Wormald follows closely on the heels of other significant exits. Tim Allan's resignation was compounded hours later by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar becoming the most prominent party figure to call for Starmer to stand down. Meanwhile, the exit of Morgan McSweeney, who had worked alongside Starmer since he became Labour leader, has prompted a comprehensive reassessment of how Downing Street operates as the Prime Minister attempts to regain political momentum.
In response to these developments, Starmer has appointed Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson as joint acting chiefs of staff. However, there are indications that the Prime Minister is considering more permanent structural changes to the role. One proposal under discussion involves splitting the chief of staff position into two distinct functions:
- One individual focusing on delivery across government departments
- Another handling political matters and relations with the Labour Party
Structural Concerns and Historical Precedents
Some within Downing Street believe that Wormald has been spread too thinly to effectively monitor whether the government was delivering on Starmer's key priorities. This concern echoes historical approaches to the cabinet secretary role during David Cameron's premiership, when responsibilities were divided between:
- Advising the Prime Minister
- Leading the Cabinet Office
- Overseeing the broader civil service
This latest reorganisation comes merely five months after the previous Downing Street restructuring, which saw Labour MP Darren Jones appointed as the Prime Minister's chief secretary with a mandate to resolve inter-departmental disputes and ensure government promises were being implemented.
The ongoing changes represent a significant moment for Starmer's administration as it navigates internal challenges while seeking to stabilise its operations and reestablish political direction following a period of considerable upheaval at the highest levels of government.
