Antonia Romeo Becomes UK Cabinet Secretary

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary, making her the first woman to hold the most senior position in the UK civil service. Romeo takes on the role with immediate effect and has been tasked with driving the government’s reform agenda.

Romeo succeeds Chris Wormald, who recently left government following controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States. Wormald’s departure marked the third senior exit from Starmer’s team in recent days.

Antonia Romeo Makes History in UK Civil Service

Antonia Romeo, a career civil servant, joined the UK civil service in 2000 as a professional economist. Over the past two decades, she has held several high-profile roles across government departments.

Most recently, she served as Permanent Secretary at the Home Office (interior ministry). She has also been Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and at the Department for International Trade.

Internationally, Romeo previously worked in New York as the UK’s Consul General and served as Special Envoy to U.S. technology companies.

Her appointment marks a historic milestone, as she becomes the first woman to lead the UK civil service in its most senior role.

Starmer Praises Romeo’s Leadership and Reform Agenda

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Romeo as an “outstanding public servant,” highlighting her professionalism and determination.

“Antonia has shown she is the right person to drive the government to reform,” Starmer said in a statement.

Romeo stated that it is a “huge privilege” to lead the civil service, calling it “a great and remarkable institution.”

She emphasized the importance of delivery, efficiency, and innovation:

“We should be known for delivery, efficiency and innovation, working to implement the Government’s agenda and meet the challenges the country faces,” she said.

Bullying Allegations Addressed Before Appointment

Earlier this week, the BBC reported that Romeo had faced allegations of bullying during her time as a senior diplomat in New York.

However, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson confirmed that only one formal complaint had been raised nine years ago and that the allegations were dismissed, with “no case to answer.”

The government said the matter had been reviewed prior to her appointment.

Government Reform Focus

Romeo’s appointment comes at a time when the Starmer government is pushing forward with a reform-focused agenda aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and public service delivery.

As Cabinet Secretary, Romeo will play a central role in coordinating government departments and ensuring that policy priorities are effectively implemented.

Her leadership is expected to shape the next phase of the UK government’s modernization efforts.