What's happened
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Sir Chris Wormald as the new Cabinet Secretary, effective December 16. Wormald, previously the permanent secretary at the Department for Health, faces criticism over his handling of the NHS during the pandemic. His role will focus on implementing Labour's reform agenda amid declining poll ratings.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Lizzy Buchan from The Mirror, Starmer expressed confidence in Wormald's ability to lead the Civil Service, stating he brings 'a wealth of experience at a critical moment.' However, critics like Barbara Herbert from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK have labeled the appointment 'unbelievably frustrating,' citing Wormald's role during the NHS crisis. BBC News highlights that Wormald will be responsible for delivering the government's 'five missions,' which are central to Labour's reform strategy. The Independent notes that this appointment comes as Starmer prepares to unveil a detailed plan for change amid declining public support, emphasizing the need for exceptional civil service leadership.
How we got here
Sir Chris Wormald's appointment follows the resignation of Simon Case, who stepped down due to health issues and controversies surrounding the Partygate scandal. Wormald has been a senior figure in the Civil Service since 1991, notably leading the Department for Health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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More on these topics
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Louise Margaret Haigh is a British Labour Party politician currently serving as the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
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The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.
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Simon Case CVO is a British civil servant who is serving as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service since 9 September 2020, succeeding Sir Mark Sedwill.
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Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.
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Sir John Kevin Curtice FRSA FRSE FBA is a British political scientist who is currently Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde and Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Social Research.
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The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, and also known colloquially as the Tories, Tory Party, or simply the Conservatives, is a political party in the United Kingdom.
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Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson Hon FRIBA is a British politician, writer, and former journalist serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2019.
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The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.