Antonia Romeo appointment draws fresh warnings after second person alerts Cabinet Office
Antonia Romeo has been confirmed as the UK’s cabinet secretary, but the appointment has reignited controversy after former colleagues raised bullying allegations from her time working at the New York consulate and a second individual contacted the Cabinet Office to warn against the move.
Antonia Romeo appointment and resurfaced complaints
The prime minister named Antonia Romeo as the country’s most senior civil servant and defended the choice as recognition of her public service record and ability to deliver. The announcement makes her the first woman to hold the post.
Former colleagues who worked with her at the New York consulate nearly a decade ago have expressed dismay at the decision, pointing to a formal complaint lodged in 2017. That complaint was investigated by a senior diplomat who found there was a case to answer, but line managers at the Cabinet Office subsequently dismissed that finding and cleared her. Other statements from government sources describe earlier allegations as having been investigated with no case to answer.
Critics who worked with her in New York say a pattern of behaviour left some staff feeling intimidated and that the prime minister’s decision risks reopening those grievances. Supporters counter that she is a dynamic leader willing to push for reform and efficiency in the civil service.
Second contact to Cabinet Office escalates scrutiny
A second person has now contacted the Cabinet Office to warn against the appointment, adding to the cluster of concerns that surfaced publicly when the selections were announced. The new contact is presented as additional material for officials and is part of the reason scrutiny around the appointment intensified in the days after the announcement.
There are also questions about the handling of past inquiries. A senior former civil servant urged the prime minister to undertake further due diligence before confirming the appointment, advice that was not followed. Separately, one statement from the head of HR at the time said none of those coming forward during the earlier probe raised concerns with HR at that time, but new material has been cited that appears to contradict that claim.
Defence, concerns and the stakes for the civil service
The prime minister publicly defended the appointment, calling Antonia Romeo an "outstanding public servant" with a long record of delivering. Romeo described the role as a "huge privilege" and spoke of her commitment to delivery, efficiency and innovation for the institution she said she loves.
Meanwhile, former colleagues and some commentators warn the move may be seen as an example of poor judgment if due diligence was cursory and past complaints were not fully addressed. Those who say they complained about her conduct in 2017 argue the decision will feel like a second failure of the system to take their concerns seriously. Supporters stress her track record in senior roles and her capacity to get things done.
The appointment settles the immediate question of who will occupy the cabinet secretary role, but it leaves unresolved disputes over the past handling of complaints and the completeness of the vetting process. With at least one former senior official having urged more checks and a second person contacting the Cabinet Office to raise fresh alarms, the controversy looks set to be an early test of how the top of government balances leadership choices with scrutiny of past conduct.
