The Prime Minister has appointed a substitute Cupboard Secretary after sacking his first simply 14 months into the job.
Dame Antonia Romeo has been appointed Cupboard Secretary (Picture: Civil Service Weblog)
Keir Starmer has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo to probably the most senior job within the civil service, naming her his new Cupboard Secretary after sacking the earlier incumbent simply 14 months into the job.
The Prime Minister started the seek for a substitute final week, after launching a clear-out of senior Downing Avenue employees amid the Peter Mandelson scandal.
The transfer, he hopes, will handle considerations by feminine Labour MPs that he’s working a ‘boy’s membership’ authorities, which has regularly been accused of ignoring girls and briefing towards feminine Cupboard ministers.
Nonetheless Dame Antonia’s appointment as Cupboard Secretary carries threat, after she was accused of bullying throughout her longstanding civil service profession.
Whereas serving as consul-general in New York in 2017, Dame Antonia was topic to a behaviour investigation by the International Workplace.
Learn extra: Whitehall vetting row as Cupboard Secretary frontrunner’s bullying probe leaked
Keir Starmer has been accused of working a ‘boys’ membership’ (Picture: Getty)
Officals concerned in elevating considerations about her behaviour mentioned that the result of the probe resembled a “cover-up”, including there had been a “chilling” try by her allies to silence critics.
A supply advised The Instances: “This was not a single grievance from one worker. It concerned a number of considerations made by a number of employees.
“The International Workplace did a full investigation and located a severe case to reply, which the Cupboard Workplace then ignored. So how did they attain that conclusion when they didn’t do their very own investigation?
“It had an enormous adverse impression on morale within the US. It was additionally deeply damaging to the entire organisation’s efforts to take care of inappropriate behaviour.
“As a result of it recommended that well-connected senior people are past reproach and never topic to regular accountability.”
Sir Chris Wormald was sacked after simply 14 months (Picture: PA)
Confirming Dame Antonia’s appointment this morning, Sir Keir Starmer mentioned he’s “delighted”.
“She is an impressive public servant, with a 25‑yr file of delivering for the British folks.
“Since changing into Prime Minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and willpower to get issues finished. Households throughout the nation are nonetheless feeling the squeeze, and this authorities is concentrated on easing the price of dwelling, strengthening public companies and restoring delight in our communities. It’s important we now have a Cupboard Secretary who can help the federal government to make this occur.
“Antonia has proven she is the appropriate individual to drive the federal government to reform and I sit up for working along with her to ship this era of nationwide renewal.”
The newest politics information – straight from our crew in Westminster Subscribe Invalid e-mail
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may occasionally embrace adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You possibly can unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Sir Chris Wormald, whom she replaces as Cupboard Secretary, was sacked simply 14 months after accepting the job provide from Sir Keir, regardless of widespread warnings on the time he was an unsuitable selection for the position.
He obtained a whopping £250,000 pay-out from the taxpayer, a transfer senior civil servants refused to log off on the grounds they might not justify at ‘worth for cash’.
Leave a Reply