While the Conservative party conference is in full swing in Birmingham, back in Whitehall there have been some major developments. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has now formally handed in his resignation letter, with the senior civil servant circulating his departure letter to his underlings today. His announcement that he will stand down at the end of the year follows weeks of whisperings that Case didn’t quite see eye to eye with Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray – with reports that, after the recent host of bad briefings against the PM’s staffer, efforts to speed up Case’s resignation date were deployed. How very curious…
The top mandarin has told civil servants, however, that he is leaving for health reasons – not because of his rumoured beef with Gray. ‘It is a shame that I feel I have to spell this out, but my decision is solely to do with my health and nothing to do with anything else,’ he told his staff. Case went on, adding:
As many of you know, I have been undergoing medical treatment for a neurological condition over the last 18 months and, whilst the spirit remains willing, the body is not… There have been far more ups than downs along the way and by far the greatest highlight has been the privilege of working with so many remarkable public servants.
Strong stuff. And, perhaps in a slight dig at the last government’s tendency for, um, regicide, Case noted: ‘It has been an honour to serve two sovereigns, four Prime Ministers and over 120 Cabinet ministers in this role.’ Crikey. It’s quite the turnover…
The job application for Case’s £200,000 role has already gone live. Will the successful applicant get on any better with Starmer’s top team? Stay tuned…
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