Guido can reveal that Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little is in discussions around her departure from her role. Labour’s efforts to replace personnel in the hulking Cabinet Office continue…
Guido first reported on concerns around Little’s performance in summer last year when a Downing Street source noted that she “seems to promise the earth all the time but can’t deliver.” Part of the Cabinet Office’s dysfunction with additional blame placed on Chris Wormald and Second Permanent Secretary Clara Swinson – both of whom are now gone…
Little has served as Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office since February 2024. She has – in conjunction with Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo – been at the forefront of efforts to access UK Security Vetting information on Peter Mandelson. That involved weeks of argument with Olly Robbins at the FCDO. Little is due before a hearing of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee tomorrow to discuss the matter…
A Whitehall source said: “There is a growing unease about Cat Little, who herself is not best liked around the system.” The source added that according to Whitehall chatter Little’s departure from government has been waylaid by the ascension of Antonia Romeo and the subsequent Mandelson vetting affair.
A Downing Street source said that Little is “due a move,” adding: “She’s not got a series of recent Permanent Secretary roles and is out of road. She and Antonia are now agreeing how and when she goes.” There’s a Perm Sec vacancy at DBT if Little fancies another go…
Efforts to replace Little will be marred by Starmer’s collapse of relations with the Civil Service. A Whitehall source said: “Not many people are going to want that job.” Quite…
UPDATE: A No10 spokesman said: “Cat is a high performing permanent secretary with a brilliant record of public service and modern leadership. There is absolutely no suggestion that her position is in question. She is a valued member of the civil service top team.”
Starmer has officially appointed Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary following an aggressive briefing war involving political and Civil Service sources. Ever since No10 briefed that she was the preferred choice two weeks ago…
Romeo has until now served as Permanent Secretary in the Home Office. Wormald now disappears beyond the horizon with a payout of more than £250,000…
Keir Starmer said:
“I am delighted to appoint Dame Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary. She is an outstanding public servant, with a 25‑year record of delivering for the British people.
Since becoming Prime Minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and determination to get things done. Families across the country are still feeling the squeeze, and this government is focused on easing the cost of living, strengthening public services and restoring pride in our communities. It is essential we have a Cabinet Secretary who can support the government to make this happen.
Antonia has shown she is the right person to drive the government to reform and I look forward to working with her to deliver this period of national renewal.”
Antonia Romeo said:
“It is a huge privilege to be asked to serve as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.
The Civil Service is a great and remarkable institution, which I love. We should be known for delivery, efficiency and innovation, working to implement the Government’s agenda and meet the challenges the country faces.
I look forward to working with all colleagues across the Civil Service to do this, in support of the Prime Minister and the Government.”
It’s a mandarin circular firing squad in Whitehall this morning as the row over Antonia Romeo’s upcoming appointment as Cabinet Secretary hits the headlines before poor Chris Wormald has even been shown the door. Last night, ex-Foreign Office Permanent Secretary Simon McDonald told Channel 4 News “due diligence has some way to go” if Romeo gets the job. There are questions over historic bullying allegations and expenses abuse. McDonald is not alone in suggesting she’s hardly a low risk choice…
Defensive measures have now been activated, with ‘a government source’ telling the Times‘ Steven Swinford:
“This is a desperate attempt from a senior male official whose time has passed but spent their career getting Britain into the mess it finds itself in today. A computer says no culture, that cannot challenge the status quo… Antonia is a disrupter. She isn’t settled with the status quo. She is one of the few senior officials that has always fought against the computer says no culture embedded in the British state…”
Whitehall officials are attacking each other in broad daylight. A total mess…
Starmer loyalist and Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Sky News that Starmer should not be replaced:
“We saw what the Tories did. They were in power for 14 years, and after 2016, I think we had nine education secretaries, seven chancellors, and five Prime Ministers. Doomscrolling through Prime Ministers doesn’t resolve the problem.”