• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

MPs and senior ex-civil servants hit out after Cabinet Secretary ousted

The Prime Minister’s chief aide Dominic Cummings has been accused of playing a part in Sir Mark Sedwill’s exit.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
June 29, 2020
in Politics

Critics have accused Downing Street insiders of making Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill the “fall guy” for mistakes made in the handling of the Covid-19 crisis after he confirmed his resignation.

Sir Mark, the most powerful official in Government, announced on Sunday he had agreed to pack his bags and stand down from his role as both Cabinet Secretary and the UK’s national security adviser.

In a letter to Boris Johnson, the 54-year-old said: “We have agreed that I will stand down and leave government service at the end of September.”

Working to “undermine” Sedwill

Bob Kerslake, a former head of the Civil Service, along with the civil servants’ union accused Number 10 “or those around it” of working to “undermine” the ex-diplomat.

Speaking to the Guardian, Lord Kerslake said: “I fear from some of the press briefing that had obviously gone on that the Civil Service is being made the fall guy for mistakes made in the handling of the pandemic.”

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, which represents public officials, said: “No 10, or those around it, has sought to undermine Sir Mark and the leadership of the civil service, with a series of anonymous briefings against him over many months.”

He blasted the tactics as “corrosive and cowardly” and said the Government would be “weaker as a result” of the departure.

RelatedPosts

‘Previously booming businesses have been left to rot’ due to ‘poor Brexit deal’

‘Brexit reality’ trends as industry group warns stockpiling has masked reality of border chaos

‘Boys’ club-type behaviour in parliament because it is still more like a public school,’ Commons & PM slammed

Tory candidate suspended after saying “fat” food bank users are “far from starving”

Opposition MPs also pointed the finger at the Prime Minister’s chief aide Dominic Cummings, suggesting he played a role in the former Afghanistan ambassador being forced out as head of the Civil Service.

Dominic Cummings

Mr Cummings is rumoured to have a difficult relationship with Sir Mark, who was appointed Cabinet Secretary in 2018 by Theresa May, with the former PM allowing him to unite the role with his national security adviser job.

Labour’s shadow housing secretary Thangam Debbonaire, referencing reports of a shake-up of the Civil Service, said on BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “Why have Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson decided that now is the time for a hard rain to fall on our loyal civil servants?”

Acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, said: “Boris Johnson is clearly ready to grant Cummings his every wish when it comes to politicising the Civil Service and sweeping out those who may try to hold his Government to account.”

The Prime Minister made quick work in promoting his Europe adviser David Frost to the role of national security adviser (NSA).

Brexit

The move raised eyebrows given Mr Frost’s lack of experience in the field and the fact he will continue to lead the UK’s trade negotiations with the European Union.

Mr Johnson will split the roles of cabinet secretary and NSA, with Downing Street confirming the process for recruiting a new head of civil service will start shortly, with applications to be invited from existing and former permanent secretaries.

Simon Case, appointed No 10 permanent secretary in May and favoured over Sir Mark to lead the review into the two metre social distancing restrictions – has been heavily tipped to take the top position.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Johnson is keen to have a Brexiteer in the role.

The report comes after Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office who has been tasked with overhauling Whitehall structures, used a speech on Saturday to call for the Government to “be less southern, less middle class” and “closer to the 52 per cent who voted to Leave and more understanding of why”.

Civil service changes

Sir Mark’s exit follows on from a number of changes at the top of the Civil Service in recent months.

The Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant Sir Simon McDonald – seen as a Brexit critic – was told this month he had to step down before it was merged with the Department for International Development (DfID).

Meanwhile, Sir Philip Rutnam, who was the Home Office’s permanent secretary, quit earlier this year after accusing Home Secretary Priti Patel of a “vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign” against him.

As part of agreeing to depart in September, Mr Johnson has nominated his outgoing Cabinet Secretary for a life peerage, and has also asked Sir Mark to lead a new G7 panel on global economic security as the UK prepares to assume the presidency next year.

Mr Frost has also been nominated by the PM for a life peerage in the House of Lords.

Related: Conservative MP: Go on holiday – you’ll be safer there

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Tags: headline
Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The other prison pandemic

Credit;PA

Repressionomics: Get ready for the new permanent austerity

Latest from TLE

‘Previously booming businesses have been left to rot’ due to ‘poor Brexit deal’

Newspapers react to Britain shutting borders…a year after pandemic struck and not until Monday

In this May 4, 2013, file photo, National Rifle Association members listen to speakers during the NRA's Annual Meetings and Exhibits at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. (Johnny Hanson/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)

‘Least distressing news of the pandemic’ as National Rifle Association files for bankruptcy

Credit;PA

Covid: London Mosque donates hot meals to local hospital staff as ‘token of thanks’

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.