The new cabinet secretary has told the country’s half a million civil servants they must “do things differently” to deliver Keir Starmer’s plans for government, as Whitehall braced for job cuts and tighter spending.
In an email to all staff on his first day in the job, Chris Wormald, taking over from Simon Case, promised a “rewiring” of the British state, echoing the words of the prime minister on announcing his appointment.
Starmer plans to change and improve the operation of Whitehall, boosting productivity and working beyond departmental silos to deliver his “missions” for government, including on living standards, housebuilding and the NHS.
However, there is already anxiety among the civil service over the prospect of tight budgets and job losses, with ministers planning to cut more than 10,000 posts as Whitehall departments battle to stay within spending limits.
Wormald, a career-long civil servant, was previously permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care, which he oversaw during the Covid pandemic, and also ran the Department for Education.
He has taken charge of the civil service two weeks after Starmer claimed too many officials were “comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline”, angering officials who had hoped the Labour government would take a different approach from the attacks of their Conservative predecessors.
The FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, accused the government of taking an “astonishing” and “really damaging” stance.
In his email to staff, Wormald wrote: “As cabinet secretary, it is my role to support the prime minister and government to deliver for the country. The prime minister has been clear that he wants a rewiring of the way the government works to deliver his recently announced ’plan for change’.
“This will require all of us to do things differently – from working much more effectively across departments to taking advantage of the major opportunities technology provides.
“Throughout my career, I have seen the civil service adapt and change to achieve incredible things for the people of the United Kingdom. I know that together we will relish the opportunities the coming years will bring.”
He takes over from Case, who served four prime ministers and 120 cabinet ministers in the role, and stood down on health grounds after a turbulent four years during which he oversaw the government’s response to the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
Wormald, who Downing Street hopes will have a lower public profile than his predecessor, said he was “deeply honoured” to be appointed to the role.
He told colleagues: “Over the years I have seen the incredible contribution that we as civil servants make and it fills me with great pride to be leading the civil service.”
