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The Latest Breaking News from Simon McDonald

Who is Antonia Romeo? Inside the rise of Starmer’s ‘Marmite’ pick to lead UK Civil Service

Former colleagues have praised Dame Antonia as ‘dynamic’ and ‘whip smart’

The Independent UK

Starmer defends cabinet secretary frontrunner amid questions over her management style

The prime minister’s official spokesperson insisted that Antonia Romeo’s record ‘speaks for itself’

The Independent UK

Minister refuses to say £260k payout for ex-Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald is 'value for money' for taxpayers

The former head of the Civil Service was reported to have been given the payment under an agreement for his departure from No10

Evening Standard

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Starmer seeks new top mandarin in Downing Street shake-up

Dame Antonia Romeo is widely tipped to replace Sir Chris Wormald as cabinet secretary – the UK’s most senior civil servant.

Evening Standard

Starmer ousts cabinet secretary in clear-out of top team after Mandelson scandal

Chris Wormald steps down ‘by mutual consent’ after a year in post with Antonia Romeo expected to succeed him

The Guardian - UK

Sir Chris Wormald quits as Cabinet Secretary as Keir Starmer clears out No10 to rescue his premiership

The top civil servant’s departure comes as the Government is rocked by the Lord Mandelson and Lord Doyle storms

Evening Standard

Keir Starmer faces fresh questions over judgment after Lord Doyle controversy

Lord Doyle has had the Labour whip removed.

Evening Standard

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Former top civil servant warns ‘more due diligence’ to be done over replacement of Chris Wormald

Simon McDonald says if Antonia Romeo is the frontrunner for cabinet secretary role then ‘due diligence has some way still to go’

The Guardian - UK

Western alliance hangs in balance as Europe stiffens itself against Trump’s threats

US demand to own Greenland leaves little scope for compromise, and forcing the issue would entail end of Nato

The Guardian - UK

Former Foreign Office head warns Reeves not to cut international aid

Exclusive: As chancellor scans budget for savings, Simon McDonald says need for humanitarian spending is ‘greater than ever’

The Guardian - UK

How parties have come under fire over complaints against MPs

An independent process will now handle cases of alleged bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct

The Guardian - UK

OPINION - Long hours, fancy clothes and no annoying constituents: is David Cameron doing a good job as foreign secretary?

His wife says he is working harder than ever, but what is the foreign secretary after, other than a nice final section on his Wikipedia page? And will he ever be forgiven for Brexit?

Evening Standard

Ministers warned of ‘massive’ security risks of Donald Trump presidency

Three of Britain’s former top US diplomats have urged the government to develop contingency plans in case Mr Trump’s bid to return to the White House is successful

The Independent UK

There’s rage at civil servants who cried over Brexit. But virtually all of us have wept over Tory antics since 2016

We don’t need to be true believers to do our jobs, but we know an incompetent government when we see it – and feel its effect, says the secret civil servant, who works in Whitehall

The Guardian - UK

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The National (Scotland)

Laura Kuenssberg slammed for 'fuelling witch hunt' against Civil Service

LAURA Kuenssberg has been slammed on social media and accused of "fuelling a witch hunt" against the Civil Service.

The Guardian - UK

Former Foreign Office chief admits telling colleagues he voted to stay in EU

Simon McDonald says department was in ‘mourning’ after 2016 referendum, leading him to reveal his personal views

The Independent UK

Foreign office mandarin under fire for saying day after Brexit referendum: I voted Remain

Lord Simon McDonald made the admission in a BBC documentary.

The Independent UK

Ex-Foreign Office chief admits telling colleagues he voted Remain

Lord Simon McDonald made the admission in a BBC documentary.

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The National (Scotland)

Ex-Foreign Office chief says UK has reached 'end of game' as global superpower

A FORMER head of the Foreign Office has insisted Britain has reached the “end of the game” as a global superpower, insisting its decline on the…

Evening Standard

Kate Moss says she might quit modelling to focus on lifestyle business

‘I want to be in control’

The Guardian - UK

Take it from me: there is no civil service ‘activist’ plot – just Tory ministers who must learn to behave

There is unease about what happens next. We are not perfect, but politicians will do anything but address their own shortcomings, says a UK civil servant

The National (Scotland)

Former senior civil servant weighs in on Dominic Raab’s claims of agenda

A FORMER senior civil servant who worked with Dominic Raab says he has seen no evidence to support his accusation that Civil Service “activists”…

The Guardian - UK

Tories consider controversial plan to politicise civil service after Raab scandal

No 10 adviser urges political appointments in a radical plan following crisis over bullying

The Guardian - UK

Ex-mandarin warned Dominic Raab about conduct ‘more than once’

Former Foreign Office civil servant Simon McDonald also rejects former deputy PM’s claims of ‘activist civil servants’

The Guardian - UK

Dominic Raab dismissed warnings about his behaviour, says ex-Foreign Office colleague – as it happened

Simon McDonald, ex-permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, says Raab’s anger at report does not invalidate its findings

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