Sir Keir Starmer this month triggered formal entry talks with the civil service, prompting debate throughout Whitehall about who the Labour chief would possibly choose as his prime mandarin if his celebration wins the overall election.
Cupboard secretary Simon Case, who’s again within the workplace as a part of a “phased return” to work after medical depart, has informed colleagues he hopes to hold on his job till 2025, when he would have served 5 years within the publish.
“It wouldn’t look proper to alter cupboard secretary instantly if there was a change of presidency,” stated one Whitehall official. “Simon all the time stated he would go in 2023 or 2025, however not instantly after a 2024 election.”
If the Conservatives beneath Rishi Sunak lose the election, Case’s successor can be chosen by Starmer, who in flip can be suggested by his chief of employees, Sue Grey, a former veteran civil servant and Whitehall ethics enforcer.
The Labour chief, who beforehand headed the Crown Prosecution Service, has a eager curiosity in how organisations are run, in line with colleagues. “For Keir it’s not nearly what, however how?” stated one.
For that cause the appointment of cupboard secretary, a vital choice for any prime minister, is seen by Starmer as notably vital in a possible new Labour administration, they added.
British prime ministers can unilaterally choose their cupboard secretary — the senior mandarin accountable for driving the civil service machine — although some select to hold out a proper course of involving interviews.
Labour is days from starting Whitehall entry talks, the standard pre-election course of by which the principle UK opposition celebration discusses with civil servants their coverage priorities.
Among the most extremely certified figures with the expertise for the publish are former Treasury officers now incomes far more within the non-public sector.
For instance, Sir Tom Scholar, former Treasury everlasting secretary sacked by Liz Truss throughout her shortlived premiership, is now chair of Nomura’s European operations and is alleged by associates to be having fun with his new profession.
Starmer’s group declined to remark, not wishing to be seen to be pre-empting the results of the overall election anticipated later this yr. The celebration has maintained a constant double-digit lead in polling since 2022.
However throughout Whitehall hypothesis is rising concerning the doable contenders for the publish, which pays Case about £200,000 a yr.
Sir Olly Robbins
A former Treasury and nationwide safety official earlier than he was handed the gruelling job of negotiating Britain’s Brexit deal, Robbins has relationship with Grey. The 2 first met when Robbins was Tony Blair’s principal non-public secretary from 2006-7 and Grey was investigating the “money for honours” scandal. He labored at Goldman Sachs after leaving Whitehall in 2019 and is now at advisory agency Hakluyt. Critics word he has by no means run a serious authorities division.
Dame Melanie Dawes
Former Treasury official Dawes has been working the media regulator Ofcom since 2020 on a wage of £324,000 a yr, in line with the most recent figures. A fluent media performer, she spent 15 years on the Treasury and likewise ran the housing and native authorities division. She was additionally previously the civil service “champion” for variety points.
Dame Sharon White
With a formidable CV in the private and non-private sector, White is at the moment chair of the John Lewis Partnership. She introduced final yr that she can be standing down in 2025 and hoped to depart the group “in a extra financially safe place” after a troublesome interval for the retailer. White was the primary black Treasury everlasting secretary and was Ofcom chief govt from 2015-19.
Jeremy Pocklington
The highest civil servant on the Division for Power Safety and Internet Zero, Pocklington is regarded by fellow officers as businesslike, pragmatic and “a mandarin’s mandarin”. Beforehand essentially the most senior official on the Division for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, he has additionally led the Treasury’s enterprise and development unit. “He’s extremely regarded, together with by the Treasury. Sue is aware of and likes him,” stated one well-placed Labour determine.
Antonia Romeo
The everlasting secretary on the Ministry of Justice since 2021, Romeo was being lined up by Truss’s chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to succeed Scholar on the Treasury in October 2022, earlier than market chaos persuaded him to decide on previous Treasury hand James Bowler to attempt to regular the ship. Romeo’s excessive media profile privately riles some colleagues. Romeo was beforehand the everlasting secretary on the Division for Worldwide Commerce.
Peter Schofield
Presently everlasting secretary on the Division for Work and Pensions, Schofield additionally has expertise working within the Treasury and was beforehand seconded to non-public fairness agency 3i. A extra nameless determine among the many prime echelon of officers, his decrease profile exhibits he has “saved his head down and his nostril clear”, in line with one colleague.
Schofield lately disclosed a prognosis of Parkinson’s illness, saying he wished employers to do extra to assist folks with well being circumstances keep in work: “I don’t need folks, once they get a prognosis just like the one I’ve had, to have a way that you would be able to’t keep on doing a giant job.”
Sarah Healey
Everlasting secretary on the Division for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Healey is considered by colleagues as charismatic, personable and all the way down to earth — a extra trendy type of mandarin. She was beforehand the highest official on the Division for Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport, and has labored within the Cupboard Workplace. Labour insiders will not be satisfied she can be the advice of Starmer’s chief of employees Grey, who served as second-in-command to Healey in her present function. The pair didn’t gel simply, in line with colleagues.
