Dame Antonia Romeo appointed as Britain’s first female chief mandarin
SIR Keir Starmer has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as Britain’s first female chief mandarin, reports BritPanorama.
Dame Antonia, who previously led the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, succeeds Sir Chris Wormold, who was dismissed for underperformance.
The appointment follows a contentious period marked by allegations from former colleagues, who accused her of bullying and inflated expenses during her tenure as consul-general in New York. An investigation, however, concluded that these claims were unfounded.
Further allegations suggested a cover-up regarding other misconduct, which was categorically denied by No10. Supporters of Dame Antonia dismissed the briefings against her as “driven by misogynistic jealousy.”
Starmer confirmed that Wormold will receive a severance package of £260,000, despite his short tenure in the role.
Upon her appointment, the Prime Minister expressed confidence in Dame Antonia, stating, “I am delighted to appoint Dame Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary. She is an outstanding public servant, with a 25-year record of delivering for the British people.” He added, “Antonia has shown she is the right person to drive the government to reform and I look forward to working with her to deliver this period of national renewal.”
Dame Antonia emphasized her commitment to the Civil Service, remarking on its remarkable institution and her dedication to ensuring effective delivery and innovation in line with the government’s agenda.
Her appointment underscores an evolution within the UK government’s leadership, as it adapts to both internal and external challenges.
