The guessing game is afoot over No10 list of fall guys
Speculation intensifies as PM’S chief of staff cancels meeting and ‘rising star’ is spotted in Downing Street
BORIS JOHNSON’S chief of staff Dan Rosenfield unexpectedly cancelled a regular meeting with advisers yesterday, triggering speculation that No10 sackings could be imminent.
There was also a sighting of Antonia Romeo, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice who was considered for the top job in the Civil Service last year, entering Downing Street.
Cabinet ministers have said that Mr Johnson is preparing to overhaul the “culture” in Downing Street in the wake of politically damaging allegations of lockdown-breaking parties.
The Prime Minister will address Parliament after the publication of a report due next week from Sue Gray, who is investigating the claims. Downing Street departures are expected.
Mr Rosenfield, the veteran civil servant who became Mr Johnson’s chief of staff only a year ago, had long been tipped by Whitehall insiders as someone who could be moved on.
Others whose futures are now in doubt include Martin Reynolds, the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary, and Jack Doyle, the No10 director of communications.
On Fridays, Mr Rosenfield regularly holds a meeting with special advisers – political appointees who serve Cabinet ministers – to recap on the week and give praise or criticism. But yesterday, the meeting – which has been held virtually in recent weeks due to Covid rules – was unexpectedly cancelled.
An email, which has seen, read: “Given the change to Plan B restrictions as announced by the PM this week and that some of you will have made plans around today’s all Spad meeting being virtual, we will be moving today’s meeting to next week so that we can meet in person. We look forward to gathering again in person at No 10 next week!”
One person who received the message said the cancellation had set off speculation that Mr Rosenfield may not be in post for Friday’s gathering. “There are lots of rumours about what that means,” the government source said of the cancelled meeting. “Silence speaks louder than words at a time like this.”
Mr Rosenfield has told colleagues “we might all need to fall on our swords here”, according to The Times.
Speculation mounted further after it emerged that Ms Romeo had attended meetings in No 10 yesterday morning.
Last night, sources said a photograph of her entering the building had “raised eyebrows” across Whitehall, with some suggesting she could be being lined up to replace Mr Rosenfield or even Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary.
Seen as a rising star, Ms Romeo was widely tipped to become the first female head of the Civil Service when the vacancy opened in 2020. She was rumoured to have made the final three on the shortlist before the role was given to Mr Case.
Approached for comment, No10 denied suggestions that Ms Romeo’s attendance was linked to a Downing Street clearout but refused to say why she had been in the building.
It came as a source who knows Mr Rosenfield suggested he could be shuffled to the Treasury rather than being sacked from government altogether.
“He’s somebody who at some point, if he isn’t damaged too much, could be permanent secretary or second permanent secretary to the Treasury,” they added. “That’s his natural home.”
The comments were echoed by a Treasury official, who claimed that Charles Roxburgh, the Exchequer’s second permanent secretary, was due to step down in July.
“There is a job coming up in the summer,” they said. “That would be a very happy landing zone for Dan Rosenfield. It’s usually someone who has a lot of industry experience. I can see how that would be a realistic proposition.” However, a senior Treasury source said they were unaware of any discussions about Mr Rosenfield crossing over.
Meanwhile, a source suggested that Mr Reynolds, who previously served as UK ambassador to Libya, could be handed a new ambassadorial role. They indicated a “middlesized European state” or somewhere further afield, such as Singapore.