Claims Johnson wants ‘yes men’ after head of civil service resigns
The resignation of Sir Mark Sedwill as Cabinet Secretary risks undermining the impartiality of the civil service, one of his predecessors has warned.
Lord O’donnell warned that political appointees to the role of head of the civil service risked the machinery of government being led by “yes men”.
Sir Mark made the sudden announcement of his departure on Sunday, after weeks of speculation of a rift with the Prime Minister and his top adviser in Number 10, Dominic Cummings.
Boris Johnson attempted to brush off criticism of the resignation, saying Sir Mark still had “a lot to offer”, and played down claims of a negative briefing campaign, suggesting he did not attach “utmost credence” to the reports.
But there is growing concern over the Cabinet Secretary’s
exit in the middle of an unprecedented public health crisis, and his replacement by the UK’S chief Brexit negotiator David Frost, both as the head of the civil service and as national security adviser.
Mr O’donnell said Mr Frost’s qualifications to advise the Prime Minister on national security were “thin”, and warned that Brexit negotiations were too important to be handled by someone with a time limit on their role.
Mr Frost has also been nominated by the PM for a life peerage. “I’m worried about the appointment of David Frost as national security adviser because I’m not quite sure how putting a special adviser in that role works,” Mr O’donnell said.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents senior officials, blasted Number 10’s treatment of Mr Sedwill “corrosive and cowardly” and said the government would be “weaker as a result” of the departure. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News: “It seems to me obvious that the Prime Minister wanted to move the Cabinet Secretary and was determined to do so. Why you do so in the middle of a pandemic and a crisis instead of actually focusing on the crisis, is a question the Prime Minister needs to answer.”
SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford said the resignation was “blatant politicisation of the civil service”.
“Dominic Cummings has been an outspoken critic of the civil service and appears now to have gotten his way,” Mr Blackford said.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson suggested Mr Frost was the first in a series of Us-style political appointments. He also did not deny suggestions that Mr Johnson would seek a Brexiteer to be Cabinet Secretary.