Sir Chris Wormald is standing down as head of the Civil Service and as Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet secretary in the latest of several resignations at Number 10.
A statement by the Cabinet Office on Thursday said the top civil servant was leaving “by mutual agreement” with the prime minister.
“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,” Wormald said.
“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 move follows negative briefing from Downing Street about Wormald’s performance in recent months.
It was widely rumoured the Civil Service boss would step down, with reports over the weekend that the change could happen as soon as this week.
The resignation also comes following a string of high-profile departures from Number 10.
Earlier this month, the prime minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney stood down, followed closely by head of communications Tim Allan, on Monday.
The announcement today means Wormald will become the shortest serving cabinet secretary in history, having only been appointed by the prime minister in December 2024.
The prime minister said he was “grateful” for Wormald’s “long and distinguished career of public service” and his “support” as cabinet secretary.
Starmer added: “I have agreed with him that he will step down as cabinet secretary today. I wish him the very best for the future.”
In a post on X, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the departing cabinet secretary “is the latest person Keir Starmer has thrown under the bus to save his own skin…. “
Dame Antonia Romeo, who is widely tipped to be in line for Wormald’s former job, Catherine Little and James Bowler will share the responsibilities of cabinet secretary for an interim period.
The prime minister will appoint a new cabinet secretary “shortly” and the appointment process will be agreed by the first Civil Service commissioner, the Cabinet Office said
