Sir Chris Wormald will become the new head of the civil service and Cabinet Secretary later this month.
The career civil servant, who has headed the Department for Health and Social Care since 2016, will be the most senior official adviser to the prime minister and Cabinet.
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The prime minister said delivering the government’s priorities would mean “re-wiring” the British state to deliver reform, and said Sir Chris’s brought “huge experience” to the role.
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He will take up the post on 16 December, when the PM said he would be responsible for the government’s “five missions”, which are at the heart of Labour’s plan for reform.
The PM said he brought huge experience to the role, adding: “From breaking down silos across government to harnessing the incredible potential of technology and innovation, it will require nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state to deliver bold and ambitious long-term reform.”
Sir Chris said that work would mean civil servants learning new skills in order to match the government’s ambition, adding: “That will require each and every one of us to embrace the change agenda in how the British state operates.”
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Some civil servants responded with incredulity at the appointment, especially given the prime minister’s claim that Sir Chris would drive the “complete re-wiring of the British state to deliver bold and ambitious long-term reform.”
One said he had “failed upwards” after he led the department for health through not only the Covid pandemic but years of preparation beforehand. Another said it was a “farcical” appointment. Several officials involved in NHS reform said they were “baffled”.
Interesting that they are talking about bold and ambitious reform, not much if that kind of talk during the election.
Which is code word for privatisation. Especially when they’re highlighting technology. Wouldn’t be surprised if big contracts go out to big tech companies including in health. They did subtly hint about this. Wes Streeting is as right wings as they come and was put in charge of the NHS. We now get to see who funded New New Labour’s election win.
Given that there was a chance that the Tories might not have even been the opposition in the election, Labour was right to say just enough to sound convincing without saying anything controversial to invite too much scrutiny.