antonia romeo named cabinet secretary in historic appointment
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as the cabinet secretary, the most senior civil servant in the UK, making her the first woman to hold the post in its 110‑year history. The appointment follows a vetting process overseen by the First Civil Service Commissioner and comes amid renewed scrutiny of past complaints about her conduct.
A milestone appointment and an experienced operator
Dame Antonia brings a 25‑year civil service career to the role, with senior leadership positions across multiple departments, including the Home Office, the Department for International Trade and the Ministry of Justice. She has served as permanent secretary in all three departments and was the UK's consul general in New York between 2016 and 2017.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described her as an "outstanding public servant, with a 25‑year record of delivering for the British people, " praising her professionalism and "determination to get things done. " Dame Antonia said she felt it was a "huge privilege" to be appointed and emphasised her commitment to delivery, efficiency and innovation across the Civil Service.
Vetting, controversy and fresh scrutiny
The appointment followed an enhanced due diligence process overseen by crossbench peer Baroness Gisela Stuart in her role as First Civil Service Commissioner. The government has previously said that three allegations relating to Dame Antonia's use of expenses and alleged bullying during her time in New York were investigated and found to present "no case to answer. "
Nevertheless, concerns have resurfaced. A second individual has contacted the Cabinet Office to warn against the appointment, and material has emerged that appears to challenge earlier assertions from officials that contemporaneous concerns were not raised during the internal investigation. A former permanent secretary of the Foreign Office has publicly criticised the decision, while other senior figures have praised her leadership and reforming track record.
Those supporting Dame Antonia point to her long record of operational leadership, including work to establish major new departmental structures and to coordinate government responses during national crises. Critics counter that questions about workplace conduct and the thoroughness of vetting should have been resolved before the final selection.
Role expectations and the road ahead
The cabinet secretary acts as the prime minister's most senior policy adviser, sits alongside the prime minister at weekly cabinet meetings when Parliament is sitting, and bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring that collective policy decisions are implemented across government. Dame Antonia replaces Sir Chris Wormald, who left the role last week after 14 months in the post.
Her immediate priorities will include helping to drive delivery on the government’s stated agenda: easing cost‑of‑living pressures, strengthening public services and supporting local communities. Observers expect her to focus on efficiency and reform, drawing on her experience running large operational departments and her background as an economist, having started her civil service career in 2000.
The appointment is likely to prompt continued scrutiny from both inside and outside the service as officials and ministers test how she balances managerial reform with efforts to rebuild trust and morale across the civil service. Dame Antonia has signalled a desire to prioritise delivery and innovation; whether that agenda will quiet critics or intensify debate will be watched closely in the weeks ahead.
