Keir Starmer approves £260,000 pay-off for outgoing Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald amid Whitehall reshuffle in London

In a move raising eyebrows across Westminster, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally signed off a £260,000 severance package for the outgoing Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald.

The decision comes after days of uncertainty over whether Sir Chris was still in post, with Downing Street refusing to clarify his status until the announcement that he was leaving “by mutual agreement.”

Only 14 months ago, Sir Keir had personally appointed Sir Chris to the top civil service role, describing him as the ideal candidate to “rewire the British state.”

The sudden turnaround has prompted questions about the cost and reasoning behind the exit.

Officials Push Back Over Severance Costs

According to sources, civil servants initially refused to process the pay-off, arguing the expenditure was not justified.

A formal “direction” from the Prime Minister was required to proceed, a mechanism used when officials need explicit political accountability for spending decisions.

The package itself is understood to be around £260,000, reflecting Sir Chris’s long career in the civil service.

During the interim period, his responsibilities are being split between Cat Little from the Cabinet Office, Treasury Permanent Secretary James Bowler, and Home Office mandarin Dame Antonia Romeo.

The Question of Sir Chris’s Replacement

Attention has already turned to who will fill the top civil service role permanently.

Sir Keir has been linked to Dame Antonia Romeo, who impressed during the Home Office’s handling of the small boats crisis.

However, Dame Antonia has a complicated history — she was investigated for bullying and misuse of expenses while serving as Consul General in New York, though she was later cleared.

Despite her experience, Westminster insiders suggest Dame Antonia may not apply for the role unless it is handed to her without competition.

The Civil Service Commission will need to decide whether a formal recruitment process is required, leaving Sir Keir’s next move precariously balanced.

Political Pressure and Warnings from Former Officials

Former Foreign Office chief Lord McDonald of Salford reportedly contacted No 10 to caution against appointing Dame Antonia without due process.

“In my view, the due diligence has some way still to go,” he told Channel 4 News.

Government sources countered that the concerns stem from a single old grievance and are “entirely dismissed.”

Meanwhile, Water Minister Emma Hardy defended the decision, praising Sir Chris’s “35 years as a civil servant” and rejecting claims that he had been scapegoated.

She also emphasised that Sir Keir is focused on assembling the team necessary to address pressing issues like the cost of living.

Context: A Period of Governmental Shake-Up

Sir Chris’s departure comes amid a flurry of high-profile exits from Government, which has raised questions about stability at the heart of Whitehall.

While Starmer’s team maintains that the changes are designed to align officials with policy priorities, critics argue that the optics of the severance and quick reshuffling fuel perceptions of chaos.

What’s Next?

The next steps are likely to centre on appointing a permanent Cabinet Secretary and deciding whether Dame Antonia Romeo will contest the role or be offered it outright.

The Civil Service Commission’s ruling on a recruitment process will be pivotal.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir will be under pressure to reassure MPs and the public that the top of Whitehall is stable and focused on key national priorities.

Summary

Sir Keir Starmer has approved a £260,000 pay-off for outgoing Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, raising questions about cost and political accountability.

While civil servants required explicit direction to release the funds, interim responsibilities are being shared among senior officials including Cat Little, James Bowler, and Dame Antonia Romeo.

The spotlight now falls on the search for a permanent replacement, with Dame Antonia Romeo a possible candidate despite past allegations from her time in New York.

Government insiders insist the claims are dismissed, but scrutiny will continue as the Civil Service Commission considers whether a formal recruitment process is needed.

This episode highlights both the pressures of leadership in Whitehall and the delicate balance between political decisions and civil service protocols.