STORY
The prospective appointment of Dame Antonia Romeo as the United Kingdom’s first female Cabinet Secretary has reignited a debate over past allegations of professional misconduct. As Prime Minister Keir Starmer moves to overhaul his senior team following the sudden departure of Sir Chris Wormald, Romeo has emerged as the clear frontrunner to lead the Civil Service. However, the move has drawn sharp warnings from former colleagues and senior officials who argue that further “due diligence” is required before she takes the most powerful administrative seat in Whitehall.
The issue resurfaced this week when Sir Simon McDonald, the former Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Office and Romeo’s superior during her New York posting, issued a highly unusual public warning. Speaking to Channel 4 News, McDonald suggested that the previous vetting process had been insufficient and urged Number 10 to “start from scratch” with their due diligence processed.