Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces growing scrutiny over leadership instability after forcing out Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald less than a year after his appointment. The abrupt departure, announced by mutual agreement, leaves the government without a permanent chief of staff, Cabinet Secretary, or director of communications.
Recent High-Level Exits
The upheaval accelerated with the resignation of Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney on Sunday, followed by Director of Communications Tim Allan the next day. Temporary replacements now handle McSweeney’s duties, expanding the circle of decision-makers amid the disarray triggered by the Mandelson scandal.
Sir Chris Wormald oversaw the release of documents tied to the controversy surrounding the former New Labour figure’s US ambassador nomination. His exit comes as No. 10 initially refused to clarify the Cabinet Secretary role, which now splits among three interim leaders: Cabinet Office’s Cat Little, Treasury’s James Bowler, and Home Office’s Dame Antonia Romeo.
Interim Arrangements and Succession Battle
Government officials state a permanent Cabinet Secretary appointment will occur shortly. However, pressure mounts against awarding the £220,000-a-year role to Dame Antonia Romeo, amid past allegations of bullying and expense misuse during her time as Consul General in New York—claims from which she was cleared.
Former Foreign Office chief Lord McDonald of Salford contacted No. 10, urging a proper recruitment process. He stated on Channel 4 News: “In my view, the due diligence has some way still to go.” A government source counters: “There is absolutely no basis for this criticism. The allegations all come from a single grievance made some time ago by a former employee. All were dismissed.”
Sir Chris stands to receive over £250,000 in severance after 35 years in Whitehall, plus a £2.5 million pension pot.
Political Backlash
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticizes the move: “The Cabinet Secretary is the latest person Keir Starmer has thrown under the bus to save his own skin. To add insult to injury, he has signed off a £250,000 payment of what looks like ‘hush money’, courtesy of the taxpayer. Once again, the Prime Minister’s judgment is found wanting. For a man who has played holier than thou all his life, the latest series of blunders shows someone who is, at best, unsuited to the role or, at worst, morally bankrupt.”
Dress Code Over Policy Priorities?
Sir Keir draws further criticism for prioritizing attire at No. 10 meetings over policy. He and Attorney General Lord Hermer reportedly attend in jackets with polo shirts. A senior figure notes: “It’s the weirdest thing… You’d get a note the night before telling everyone to make sure they’re wearing smart casual.”
The Clattering Train Reference
The phrase “who is in charge of the clattering train?” evokes a historic warning from Winston Churchill. In a 1935 parliamentary debate, he recalled Edwin James Milliken’s 1890 Punch poem about a fatal train crash due to negligent crew. The lines read: “Who is in charge of the clattering train? The axles creak and the couplings strain… For Death is in charge of the clattering train!” Churchill used it to highlight risks of inaction against Nazi Germany, now symbolizing out-of-control situations.
