Sir Keir Starmer this month triggered formal entry talks with the civil service, prompting debate throughout Whitehall about who the Labour chief may decide as his prime mandarin if his social gathering wins the final election.
Cupboard secretary Simon Case, who’s again within the workplace as a part of a “phased return” to work after medical go away, has instructed colleagues he hopes to hold on his job till 2025, when he would have served 5 years within the put up.
“It wouldn’t look proper to vary cupboard secretary instantly if there was a change of presidency,” mentioned one Whitehall official. “Simon at all times mentioned he would go in 2023 or 2025, however not instantly after a 2024 election.”
If the Conservatives below Rishi Sunak lose the election, Case’s successor can be chosen by Starmer, who in flip can be suggested by his chief of workers, Sue Grey, a former veteran civil servant and Whitehall ethics enforcer.
The Labour chief, who beforehand headed the Crown Prosecution Service, has a eager curiosity in how organisations are run, based on colleagues. “For Keir it’s not nearly what, however how?” mentioned one.
For that motive the appointment of cupboard secretary, a essential choice for any prime minister, is seen by Starmer as significantly essential in a possible new Labour administration, they added.
British prime ministers can unilaterally choose their cupboard secretary — the senior mandarin accountable for driving the civil service machine — although some select to hold out a proper course of involving interviews.
Labour is days from starting Whitehall access talks, the same old pre-election course of by means of which the primary UK opposition social gathering discusses with civil servants their coverage priorities.
A few of the most extremely certified figures with the expertise for the put up are former Treasury officers now incomes way more within the non-public sector.
For instance, Sir Tom Scholar, former Treasury everlasting secretary sacked by Liz Truss throughout her shortlived premiership, is now chair of Nomura’s European operations and is alleged by associates to be having fun with his new profession.
Starmer’s group declined to remark, not wishing to be seen to be pre-empting the results of the final election anticipated later this 12 months. The social gathering has maintained a constant double-digit lead in polling since 2022.
However throughout Whitehall hypothesis is rising in regards to the doable contenders for the put up, which pays Case about £200,000 a 12 months.
Sir Olly Robbins
![Sir Olly Robbins](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2F4f0fb778-63e7-48cb-8657-619b9d791cf0.png?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=1)
A former Treasury and nationwide safety official earlier than he was handed the gruelling job of negotiating Britain’s Brexit deal, Robbins has a very good relationship with Grey. The 2 first met when Robbins was Tony Blair’s principal non-public secretary from 2006-7 and Grey was investigating the “money for honours” scandal. He labored at Goldman Sachs after leaving Whitehall in 2019 and is now at advisory agency Hakluyt. Critics observe he has by no means run a significant authorities division.
Dame Melanie Dawes
![Dame Melanie Dawes](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2F67d29f31-b2ab-40e0-b9d8-ffbc5e09a7bf.png?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=1)
Former Treasury official Dawes has been working the media regulator Ofcom since 2020 on a wage of £324,000 a 12 months, based on the newest figures. A fluent media performer, she spent 15 years on the Treasury and in addition ran the housing and native authorities division. She was additionally previously the civil service “champion” for range points.
Dame Sharon White
![Dame Sharon White](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2F10e60c41-dd23-4e10-88e9-b99e32ffa18a.png?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=1)
With a formidable CV in the private and non-private sector, White is at the moment chair of the John Lewis Partnership. She introduced final 12 months that she can be standing down in 2025 and hoped to go away the group “in a extra financially safe place” after a troublesome interval for the retailer. White was the primary black Treasury everlasting secretary and was Ofcom chief government from 2015-19.
Jeremy Pocklington
![Jeremy Pocklington](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2F87a65898-4fa1-4ce9-8239-1ad675ad0b48.png?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=1)
The highest civil servant on the Division for Vitality Safety and Web Zero, Pocklington is regarded by fellow officers as businesslike, pragmatic and “a mandarin’s mandarin”. Beforehand probably the most senior official on the Division for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, he has additionally led the Treasury’s enterprise and progress unit. “He’s extremely regarded, together with by the Treasury. Sue is aware of and likes him,” mentioned one well-placed Labour determine.
Antonia Romeo
![Antonia Romeo](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2Ff09b7bf1-7802-4bd0-a4e0-a29f57661088.png?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=1)
The everlasting secretary on the Ministry of Justice since 2021, Romeo was being lined up by Truss’s chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to succeed Scholar on the Treasury in October 2022, earlier than market chaos persuaded him to decide on outdated Treasury hand James Bowler to attempt to regular the ship. Romeo’s excessive media profile privately riles some colleagues. Romeo was beforehand the everlasting secretary on the Division for Worldwide Commerce.
Peter Schofield
![Peter Schofield](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2F2bff8527-cd6c-499b-a8f4-989c208bb592.png?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=1)
At the moment everlasting secretary on the Division for Work and Pensions, Schofield additionally has expertise working within the Treasury and was beforehand seconded to personal fairness agency 3i. A extra nameless determine among the many prime echelon of officers, his decrease profile exhibits he has “saved his head down and his nostril clear”, based on one colleague.
Schofield not too long ago disclosed a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, saying he needed employers to do extra to assist folks with well being situations keep in work: “I don’t need folks, after they get a analysis just like the one I’ve had, to have a way that you could’t keep on doing an enormous job.”
Sarah Healey
![Sarah Healey](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2F6c055682-3253-4dc8-ae1d-77bcd7df4bf1.png?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=1)
Everlasting secretary on the Division for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Healey is considered by colleagues as charismatic, personable and right down to earth — a extra trendy model of mandarin. She was beforehand the highest official on the Division for Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport, and has labored within the Cupboard Workplace. Labour insiders aren’t satisfied she can be the advice of Starmer’s chief of workers Grey, who served as second-in-command to Healey in her present position. The pair didn’t gel simply, based on colleagues.