Britain’s most senior civil servant has stepped down from Downing Street just days after the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff resigned, marking the latest in a series of high-profile exits from Number 10.
Sir Chris Wormald’s departure as Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service took effect immediately following a mutual agreement with the Prime Minister. The Cabinet Office confirmed the decision on Wednesday.
The resignation follows Morgan McSweeney’s exit as Chief of Staff on Sunday, with Sir Chris’s departure representing another significant loss of senior personnel from the Prime Minister’s inner circle within the span of days.
Sir Chris served as a civil servant for 35 years, culminating in his appointment to the most senior administrative position in British government. As Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, he oversaw the operations of Whitehall departments and coordinated government policy implementation.
The Cabinet Office statement indicated Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Chris had reached the decision by mutual consent, though no specific reasons were provided for the timing or circumstances of his departure.
In his statement, Sir Chris said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a civil servant for the past 35 years, and a particular distinction to lead the service as cabinet secretary.”
He added: “I want to place on record my sincere thanks to the extraordinary civil servants, public servants, ministers, and advisers I have worked with. Our country is fortunate to have such dedicated individuals devoted to public service, and I wish them every success for the future.”
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the departing Cabinet Secretary’s lengthy career in public administration. “I am very grateful to Sir Chris for his long and distinguished career of public service, spanning more than 35 years, and for the support that he has given me over the past year,” Starmer stated.
The Prime Minister confirmed: “I have agreed with him that he will step down as cabinet secretary today. I wish him the very best for the future.”
The rapid succession of departures from Number 10 comes at a critical period for the government, with Sir Chris’s exit removing the most experienced administrative figure from the Prime Minister’s immediate orbit. His role coordinating across government departments made him central to policy delivery and civil service operations.
The Cabinet Office will now begin the process of appointing a successor to fill the Cabinet Secretary position. The recruitment typically involves consultations between the Prime Minister and senior civil servants, with candidates drawn from the most experienced permanent secretaries across Whitehall departments.
An interim arrangement may be put in place whilst the formal selection process proceeds, ensuring continuity of operations during the transition period. The new Cabinet Secretary will assume responsibility for heading the civil service and advising the Prime Minister on government administration and policy coordination.
