UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer has appointed Chris Wormald as the new cabinet secretary, making him Britain’s most senior civil servant.
Wormald, who has been the Department of Health’s permanent secretary since May 2016, will succeed Simon Case, who steps down on December 16 due to health reasons.
Announcing the appointment, the prime minister expressed his confidence in Wormald’s ability to lead the civil service through significant reforms aimed at delivering Labour’s key priorities, including boosting the economy, cutting NHS waiting times, ensuring public safety, strengthening energy security, and enhancing social mobility. Sir Keir said, “He brings a wealth of experience to this role at a critical moment in the work of change this new government has begun.”
Wormald will be central to the government’s ambitious agenda, which Sir Keir described as requiring “the complete rewiring of the British state” to foster innovation, dismantle bureaucratic silos, and implement bold, long-term reforms.
“Delivering this scale of change will require exceptional civil service leadership,” the prime minister remarked. “There could be no-one better placed to drive forward our plan for change than Chris.”
Reflecting on his new role, Wormald stated, “I am delighted that the prime minister has appointed me to the privileged role of leading our talented civil service, as we rise to the challenge of delivering the government’s focused agenda to deliver its plan for change.
“The government has set a clear mandate – an ambitious agenda with working people at its heart. That will require each and every one of us to embrace the change agenda in how the British state operates.”
Wormald, who has held key roles in the Department for Education, the Cabinet Office, and the deputy prime minister’s office, made headlines last year during the Covid inquiry.
Evidence presented revealed that he and other senior officials compared Covid to chickenpox in early discussions about the virus, suggesting that herd immunity might be a viable approach.
His extensive experience across Whitehall positions him to lead the civil service in delivering on Labour’s ambitious reform plans.
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