Britain’s top civil servant steps down from powerful role

Britain’s top civil servant and one of the most powerful people in government announced that he would step down, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepared to shake up the country’s civil service.

Mark Sedwill (pic) on Sunday said he would resign from his roles as Cabinet secretary, national security adviser and head of the Civil Service in September.

He said it had been a privilege to serve, but now is the time for change because the Johnson government was shifting to a new phase.

“It was obviously right to stay on for the acute phase of the Covid-19 crisis,” Sedwill said in his resignation letter.

“As you are setting out this week, the government’s focus is now shifting to domestic and global recovery and renewal.”

Johnson’s Europe adviser, David Frost, will step into the role of national security adviser.

The statement from Downing Street office didn’t say who was stepping into the other roles.

Frost will remain the chief negotiator for EU talks and said “these will remain my top single priority until those negotiations have concluded, one way or another.’’

Sedwill, a 54-year-old former diplomat, has been accused of lacking the domestic policy skills needed to respond to the crisis sparked by the pandemic.

In recent months, reports also had suggested he had fallen afoul of Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s powerful aide, who wanted the public servant removed.

Speculation about his future was fuelled when Simon Case, who was appointed permanent secretary in Johnson’s Downing Street office amid the pandemic, was chosen to lead a review into social distancing restrictions. The review led to an easing of lockdown measures in place since March 23.

Case is considered the favourite to become the next Cabinet secretary. Dubbed the ultimate “securocrat,” Sedwill was a trusted lieutenant of Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, during her time as prime minister. — AP