The Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary have agreed by mutual consent the Cabinet Secretary will stand down

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary have agreed that Sir Chris Wormald will stand down as the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service by mutual agreement from today (12 February). 

Sir Chris Wormald, 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. 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.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: 

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. I have agreed with him that he will step down as Cabinet Secretary today. I wish him the very best for the future.

For an interim period, the responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary will be shared by Catherine Little CB, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, Dame Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary at the Home Office and James Bowler CB, Permanent Secretary at His Majesty's Treasury. 

The Prime Minister will appoint a new Cabinet Secretary shortly. The appointment process will be agreed by the First Civil Service Commissioner.