Cabinet Secretary (United Kingdom): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Head of the British Civil Service}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2013}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} |
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{{Use British English|date=November 2011}} |
{{Use British English|date=November 2011}} |
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{{ |
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}} |
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{{Infobox Political post |
{{Infobox Political post |
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| border |
| border = parliamentary |
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| minister |
| minister = not_prime |
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| insignia |
| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg |
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| insigniacaption |
| insigniacaption = Royal Arms as used by [[His Majesty's Government]] |
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| department |
| department = [[Cabinet Office]] |
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| post |
| post = Cabinet Secretary |
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| incumbent |
| incumbent = [[Chris Wormald|Sir Chris Wormald]] [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]] |
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| image |
| image = Sir Chris Wormald.png |
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| incumbentsince |
| incumbentsince = 16 December 2024 |
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| style |
| style = [[The Right Honourable]]<br />(UK and the Commonwealth) |
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| appointer |
| appointer = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] |
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| inaugural |
| inaugural = [[Maurice Hankey|Sir Maurice Hankey]] |
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| formation |
| formation = 1916 |
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| body = |
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| precursor = |
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| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] <br/> [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] |
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| member_of = [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]] |
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| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]] |
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}} |
}} |
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{{PoliticsUK}} |
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{{PoliticsUK}}The '''Cabinet Secretary''' is the most senior [[civil servant]] in the United Kingdom. He acts as the senior policy adviser to the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] and as the Secretary to the Cabinet, responsible to all Ministers for the running of Cabinet Government. The role is currently occupied by [[Jeremy Heywood|Sir Jeremy Heywood]], appointed in January 2012; in succession to Sir [[Gus O'Donnell]], 2005-2012. |
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The '''cabinet secretary''' is the most senior [[civil servant]] in the [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)#Head of the Home Civil Service|United Kingdom]] and is based in the [[Cabinet Office]]. The person in this role acts as the senior policy adviser to the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]] and [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]], and as the secretary to the Cabinet is responsible to all ministers for the efficient running of government. The role is currently occupied by [[Chris Wormald|Sir Chris Wormald]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prime Minister appoints Sir Chris Wormald as new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Service|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-appoints-sir-chris-wormald-as-new-cabinet-secretary-and-head-of-the-civil-service}}</ref> |
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The position of Cabinet Secretary was created in 1916 for [[Maurice Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey|Maurice Hankey]], when the existing secretariat of the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]], headed by Hankey, became secretariat to a newly organised [[War Cabinet]].<ref>{{cite web |
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==Origin== |
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The position of [[cabinet secretary]] was created in 1916 for [[Maurice Hankey|Sir Maurice Hankey]], when the existing secretariat of the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]], headed by Hankey, became secretariat to a newly organised [[War Cabinet]].<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/cabinet-gov/development-cabinet-government.htm |
|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/cabinet-gov/development-cabinet-government.htm |
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|title=Development of Cabinet government |
|title=Development of Cabinet government |
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|publisher=The National Archives}}</ref> |
|publisher=The National Archives}}</ref> |
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==Responsibilities== |
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===Civil Service=== |
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Since 1981<ref>{{cite book |
Since 1981<ref>{{cite book |
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| last = Sampson |
| last = Sampson |
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| Line 30: | Line 40: | ||
| authorlink = Anthony Sampson |
| authorlink = Anthony Sampson |
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| title = The Changing Anatomy of Britain |
| title = The Changing Anatomy of Britain |
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| series = Anatomy of Britain |
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| publisher = [[Hodder and Stoughton]] |
| publisher = [[Hodder and Stoughton]] |
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| year = 1982 |
| year = 1982 |
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| isbn = 0-340-20964-X |
| isbn = 0-340-20964-X |
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| page = 171 |
| page = 171 |
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}}</ref> |
}}</ref> (except for a period 2011–2014), the position of cabinet secretary has been combined with the role of [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)#Head of the Home Civil Service|Head of the Home Civil Service]]. The cabinet secretary used to also hold the position of the permanent secretary of the [[Cabinet Office]], but this has been passed to the chief executive of the civil service. The first means that the cabinet secretary is responsible for all the civil servants of the various departments within government (except the [[Foreign Office]]), chairing the [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)#Permanent Secretaries Management Group (PSMG)|Permanent Secretaries Management Group]] (PSMG) which is the principal governing body of the civil service. The second means that the cabinet secretary is responsible for leading the government department that provides administrative support to the prime minister and Cabinet. The post is appointed by the prime minister with the advice of the out-going cabinet secretary and the [[First Civil Service Commissioner]].<ref>{{cite web |
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|title = Sir Gus O'Donnell |
|title = Sir Gus O'Donnell |
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|author = Prime Minister's Official Spokesman |
|author = Prime Minister's Official Spokesman |
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| Line 41: | Line 50: | ||
|date = 15 June 2005 |
|date = 15 June 2005 |
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|work = Downing Street Says (unofficial record) |
|work = Downing Street Says (unofficial record) |
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|archiveurl = |
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20050713082641/http://www.downingstreetsays.org/archives/001665.html |
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|archivedate = 13 July 2005 |
|archivedate = 13 July 2005 |
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|deadurl = http://www.downingstreetsays.org/archives/001665.html |
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|accessdate = 2011-12-22 |
|accessdate = 2011-12-22 |
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|url= http://www.downingstreetsays.org/archives/001665.html |
|url= http://www.downingstreetsays.org/archives/001665.html |
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}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
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===Cabinet=== |
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The responsibilities of the job vary from time to time and depend very much on the personal qualities of both the [[Prime Minister]] and Cabinet Secretary of the day. In most cases the true influence of the Cabinet Secretary extends far beyond administrative matters, and reaches to the very heart of the decision making process. For instance, the Cabinet Secretary is responsible for administering the [[Ministerial Code]] which governs the conduct of ministers (also known as ''the Rule Book'' and formerly ''Questions of Procedure for Ministers''). In this duty the Cabinet Secretary may be asked to investigate "leaks" within government, and enforce Cabinet discipline. Unusually in a democracy, this gives the unelected Cabinet Secretary some authority over elected ministers (a situation satirised in the [[BBC]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]''), although the constitutional authority of the Code is somewhat ambiguous. |
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The responsibilities of the job vary from time to time and depend very much on the personal qualities of both the prime minister and cabinet secretary of the day. In most cases the true influence of the cabinet secretary extends far beyond administrative matters, and reaches to the very heart of the decision-making process. For instance, the cabinet secretary is responsible for administering the [[Ministerial Code]] which governs the conduct of ministers (also known as ''the Rule Book'' and formerly ''Questions of Procedure for Ministers''). In this duty the cabinet secretary may be asked to investigate leaks within government, and enforce Cabinet discipline. Unusually in a democracy, this gives the unelected cabinet secretary some authority over elected ministers (a situation satirised in the [[BBC]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]''), although the constitutional authority of the code is somewhat ambiguous. |
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===Intelligence=== |
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The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for overseeing the intelligence services and their relationship to the government, though since 2002 this responsibility has been delegated to a full-time role (initially as [[Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator]], now the Head of Intelligence, Security & Resilience working to the [[National Security Council (United Kingdom)#National Security Adviser|National Security Adviser]]), with the Cabinet Secretary focussing on civil service reforms to help deliver the government's policy programme. |
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The cabinet secretary is responsible for overseeing the intelligence services and their relationship to the government, though since 2002 this responsibility has been delegated to a full-time role (initially as [[Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator]], now the [[National Security Adviser (United Kingdom)|National Security Adviser]]), with the cabinet secretary focussing on civil service reforms to help deliver the government's policy programme. |
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==Appointment== |
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It was announced on 11 October 2011 that Sir Gus would retire at the end of 2011, and following this the three roles currently performed by the Cabinet Secretary will be split: the Cabinet Secretary will provide policy advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet; the Head of the Home Civil Service will provide leadership for the whole Civil Service; and the Permanent Secretary will oversee the Cabinet Office.<ref>{{cite web |
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Previously the Cabinet Secretary was appointed on the advice of the outgoing incumbent.<ref>[https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/who-is-the-cabinet-secretary-and-how-are-they-appointed/]</ref> The 2024 appointment process consisted of shortlisted candidates took "leadership assessments" and an interview chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner [[Gisela Stuart]], [[Brian McBride]] (Lead Non Executive Director MoD, and Non-Executive member of the Civil Service Senior Leadership Committee), [[Gus O’Donnell]] (former Cabinet Secretary) and Dame [[Sharon White]] (former Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury). The appointment will be made by the Prime Minister.<ref>[https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/job-listing/cabinet-secretary-and-head-of-the-civil-service-cabinet-office-JV_IC2671300_KO0,47_KE48,62.htm?jl=1009468879239 Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service]</ref> |
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|url = http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/cabinet-secretary-announces-retirement/ |
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|title = Cabinet Secretary announces retirement |
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|author = HM Government |
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|date = 11 October 2011 |
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|work = Number 10 website |
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|accessdate = 2011-12-22 |
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}}</ref> It was announced later that the occupiers would be: Cabinet Secretary, Sir [[Jeremy Heywood]]; [[Head of the Home Civil Service]], Sir [[Bob Kerslake]], the Permanent Secretary at the [[Department for Communities and Local Government]]; and lastly, Permanent Secretary at the [[Cabinet Office]], [[Ian Watmore]].<ref>{{cite web |
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|url = http://network.civilservicelive.com/pg/pages/view/623890/kerslake-to-head-the-civil-service-with-promise-of-visible-leadership |
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|title = Kerslake to head the civil service with promise of 'visible leadership' |
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|author = Civil Service Live Network |
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|accessdate = 1 January 2012 |
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}}</ref> |
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==2011 restructuring== |
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==List of Cabinet Secretaries== |
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It was announced on 11 October 2011 that [[Gus O'Donnell]] would retire at the end of 2011, and following this the three roles then performed by the cabinet secretary would be split: the cabinet secretary would provide policy advice to the prime minister and Cabinet; the Head of the Civil Service would provide leadership for the whole civil service; and the [[Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary|permanent secretary]] would oversee the Cabinet Office.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/cabinet-secretary-announces-retirement/ |title = Cabinet Secretary announces retirement |author = HM Government |date = 11 October 2011 |work = Number 10 website |accessdate = 2011-12-22}}</ref> It was announced later that the officeholders would be [[Jeremy Heywood]] as cabinet secretary, [[Bob Kerslake]] as Head of the Civil Service, and [[Ian Watmore]] as permanent secretary at the [[Cabinet Office]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://network.civilservicelive.com/pg/pages/view/623890/kerslake-to-head-the-civil-service-with-promise-of-visible-leadership|title = Kerslake to head the civil service with promise of 'visible leadership'|author= Civil Service Live Network|accessdate= 1 January 2012|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120711052450/http://network.civilservicelive.com/pg/pages/view/623890/kerslake-to-head-the-civil-service-with-promise-of-visible-leadership|archivedate= 11 July 2012}}</ref> |
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*[[Maurice Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey|Sir Maurice Hankey]] 1916 - 1938 |
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*[[Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges|Sir Edward Bridges]] 1938 - 1946 |
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*[[Norman Brook, 1st Baron Normanbrook|Sir Norman Brook]] 1947 - 1962 |
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*[[Burke Trend, Baron Trend|Sir Burke Trend]] 1963 - 1973 |
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*[[John Hunt, Baron Hunt of Tanworth|Sir John Hunt]] 1973 - 1979 |
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*[[Robert Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster|Sir Robert Armstrong]] 1979 - 1987 |
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*[[Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell|Robin Butler]] 1988 - 1998 |
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*[[Richard Wilson, Baron Wilson of Dinton|Sir Richard Wilson]] 1998 - 2002 |
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*[[Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull|Andrew Turnbull]] 2002 - 2005 |
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*[[Gus O'Donnell|Sir Gus O'Donnell]], 2005 - 2012 |
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*[[Jeremy Heywood|Sir Jeremy Heywood]] 2012–present |
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In July 2014 it was announced that Kerslake would step down and Heywood would take the title of head of the Civil Service with a chief executive of the Civil Service reporting to Heywood and holding Watmore's post at the Cabinet Office. Heywood's retirement on health grounds was announced on 24 October 2018, and he was replaced by [[Mark Sedwill]]. {{As of|January 2025}}, [[Chris Wormald|Sir Chris Wormald]] is Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service and [[Cat Little]] is Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary and COO of the Civil Service; as such, the 2011 restructuring has been partially undone and two of O'Donnell's roles are again held by the same person, while the third has remained separate. |
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== See also == |
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==List of cabinet secretaries== |
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* [[Number 10 Downing Street]] |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
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* [[Home Civil Service]] |
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|- |
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! # |
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! Portrait |
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! Name<br>{{small|(birth–death)}} |
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! colspan=2 | Term of office |
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! Concurrent office(s) |
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! Peerage |
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|- |
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| 1 |
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| [[File:Lord ankey.jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Maurice|Hankey|Maurice Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey}}<br>{{small|(1877–1963)}} |
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| 1916 |
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| 1938 |
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| [[Clerk of the Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Clerk of the Privy Council]] |
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| align=left|[[Baron Hankey]] in 1939 |
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|- |
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| 2 |
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| |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Edward|Bridges|Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges}}<br>{{small|(1892–1969)}} |
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| 1938 |
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| 1946 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service<br>[[Permanent Secretary to the Treasury]] |
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| align=left|[[Baron Bridges]] in 1957 |
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|- |
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| 3 |
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| |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Norman|Brook|Norman Brook, 1st Baron Normanbrook}}<br>{{small|(1902–1967)}} |
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| 1947 |
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| 1962 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service<br>[[Permanent Secretary to the Treasury]] |
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| align=left|[[Baron Normanbrook]] in 1962 |
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|- |
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| 4 |
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| [[File:No image.svg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Burke|Trend|Burke Trend, Baron Trend}}<br>{{small|(1914–1987)}} |
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| 1963 |
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| 1972 |
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| |
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| align=left|[[Baron Trend]] in 1974 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 5 |
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| |
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| {{Sortname|Sir John|Hunt|John Hunt, Baron Hunt of Tanworth}}<br>{{small|(1919–2008)}} |
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| 1973 |
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| 1979 |
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| |
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| align=left|[[Baron Hunt of Tanworth]] in 1980 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 6 |
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| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Armstrong of Ilminster crop 2.jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Robert|Armstrong|Robert Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster}}<br>{{small|(1927–2020)}} |
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| 1979 |
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| 1987 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| align=left|[[Baron Armstrong of Ilminster]] in 1988 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 7 |
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| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Butler of Brockwell crop 2.jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Robin|Butler|Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell}}<br>{{small|(b. 1938)}} |
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| 1988 |
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| 1998 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| align=left|[[Baron Butler of Brockwell]] in 1998 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 8 |
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| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Wilson of Dinton crop 2, 2019.jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Richard|Wilson|Richard Wilson, Baron Wilson of Dinton}}<br>{{small|(b. 1942)}} |
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| 1998 |
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| 2002 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| align=left|[[Baron Wilson of Dinton]] in 2002 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 9 |
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| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Turnbull crop 2, 2019.jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Andrew|Turnbull|Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull}}<br>{{small|(b. 1945)}} |
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| 1 September 2002 |
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| 1 March 2005 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| align=left|[[Baron Turnbull]] in 2005 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 10 |
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| [[File:Official portrait of Lord O'Donnell crop 2, 2021.jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Gus|O'Donnell|Gus O'Donnell}}<br>{{small|(b. 1952)}} |
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| 1 March 2005 |
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| 31 December 2011 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| align=left|[[Baron O'Donnell]] in 2012 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 11 |
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| [[File:Sir Jeremy Heywood, Cabinet Secretary, January 2015 (cropped).jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Jeremy|Heywood|Jeremy Heywood}}<br>{{small|(1961–2018)}} |
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| 1 January 2012 |
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| 24 October 2018 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| align=left|[[Baron Heywood of Whitehall]] in 2018 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 12 |
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| [[File:Mark Sedwill (cropped).jpg|100px]] |
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| {{Sortname|Sir Mark|Sedwill|Mark Sedwill}}<br>{{small|(b. 1964)}} |
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| 24 October 2018 |
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| 9 September 2020 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| align=left|[[Baron Sedwill]] in 2020 for [[Life peer|life]] |
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|- |
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| 13 |
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| [[File:Simon Case (cropped).jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Simon Case]]<br>{{small|(b. 1978)}} |
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| 9 September 2020 |
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| 16 December 2024 |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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|- |
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|- |
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| 14 |
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| [[File:Sir Chris Wormald.png|100px]] |
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| [[Chris Wormald|Sir Chris Wormald]]<br>{{small|(b. 1968)}} |
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| 16 December 2024 |
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| |
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| Head of the Home Civil Service |
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| |
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|- |
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|} |
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== Timeline of cabinet secretaries == |
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<timeline> |
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ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:12 |
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PlotArea = top:10 bottom:100 right:130 left:20 |
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AlignBars = late |
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DateFormat = yyyy |
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Period = from:1915 till:2025 |
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TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal |
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ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1915 |
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Colors = |
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id:former value:rgb(0.5,0.5,0.5) legend: Former |
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id:current value:rgb(1,0.25,0.25) legend: Current |
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Legend = columns:2 left:150 top:50 columnwidth:100 |
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TextData = |
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pos:(20,55) textcolor:black fontsize:M |
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text:"Tenure:" |
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BarData = |
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bar:Hankey |
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bar:Bridges |
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bar:Brook |
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bar:Trend |
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bar:Hunt |
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bar:Armstrong |
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bar:Butler |
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bar:Wilson |
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bar:Turnbull |
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bar:ODonnell |
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bar:Heywood |
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bar:Sedwill |
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bar:Case |
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bar:Wormald |
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PlotData= |
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width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till |
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bar:Hankey |
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from: 1916 till: 1938 color:former text:"[[Maurice Hankey]]" |
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bar:Bridges |
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from: 1938 till: 1947 color:former text:"[[Edward Bridges]]" |
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bar:Brook |
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from: 1947 till: 1963 color:former text:"[[Norman Brook]]" |
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bar:Trend |
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from: 1963 till: 1973 color:former text:"[[Burke Trend]]" |
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bar:Hunt |
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from: 1973 till: 1979 color:former text:"[[John Hunt, Baron Hunt of Tanworth|John Hunt]]" |
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bar:Armstrong |
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from: 1979 till: 1988 color:former text:"[[Robert Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster|Robert Armstrong]]" |
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bar:Butler |
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from: 1988 till: 1998 color:former text:"[[Robin Butler]]" |
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bar:Wilson |
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from: 1998 till: 2002 color:former text:"[[Richard Wilson, Baron Wilson of Dinton|Richard Wilson]]" |
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bar:Turnbull |
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from: 2002 till: 2005 color:former text:"[[Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull|Andrew Turnbull]]" |
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bar:ODonnell |
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from: 2005 till: 2012 color:former text:"[[Gus O'Donnell]]" |
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bar:Heywood |
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from: 2012 till: 2018 color:former text:"[[Jeremy Heywood]]" |
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bar:Sedwill |
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from: 2018 till: 2020 color:former text:"[[Mark Sedwill]]" |
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bar:Case |
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from: 2020 till: 2024 color:former text:"[[Simon Case]]" |
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bar: Wormald |
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from: 2024 till: 2025 color:current text:"[[Chris Wormald]]" |
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</timeline> |
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== See also == |
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*[[10 Downing Street#Office of the Prime Minister|Prime Minister's Office]] |
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*[[Private Secretary]] |
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*[[Principal Private Secretary]] |
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*[[Permanent secretary]] |
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*[[Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government]] |
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*[[Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service]] |
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*[[Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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*[ |
*[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office Cabinet Office] |
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{{ |
{{Cabinet Office}} |
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[[Category:Cabinet Office (United Kingdom)]] |
[[Category:Cabinet Office (United Kingdom)]] |
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[[Category:Civil |
[[Category:Civil service positions in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:1916 introductions]] |
[[Category:1916 introductions]] |
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[[Category:1916 establishments in the United Kingdom]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:19, 9 January 2025
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
| Cabinet Secretary | |
|---|---|
.svg) Royal Arms as used by His Majesty's Government | |
 | |
| Cabinet Office | |
| Style | The Right Honourable (UK and the Commonwealth) |
| Member of | Privy Council |
| Reports to | Prime Minister Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster |
| Appointer | Prime Minister |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Inaugural holder | Sir Maurice Hankey |
| Formation | 1916 |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Politics of the United Kingdom |
|---|
|
 United Kingdom portal |
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
The cabinet secretary is the most senior civil servant in the United Kingdom and is based in the Cabinet Office. The person in this role acts as the senior policy adviser to the prime minister and Cabinet, and as the secretary to the Cabinet is responsible to all ministers for the efficient running of government. The role is currently occupied by Sir Chris Wormald.[1]
Origin
[edit]The position of cabinet secretary was created in 1916 for Sir Maurice Hankey, when the existing secretariat of the Committee of Imperial Defence, headed by Hankey, became secretariat to a newly organised War Cabinet.[2]
Responsibilities
[edit]Civil Service
[edit]Since 1981[3] (except for a period 2011–2014), the position of cabinet secretary has been combined with the role of Head of the Home Civil Service. The cabinet secretary used to also hold the position of the permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office, but this has been passed to the chief executive of the civil service. The first means that the cabinet secretary is responsible for all the civil servants of the various departments within government (except the Foreign Office), chairing the Permanent Secretaries Management Group (PSMG) which is the principal governing body of the civil service. The second means that the cabinet secretary is responsible for leading the government department that provides administrative support to the prime minister and Cabinet. The post is appointed by the prime minister with the advice of the out-going cabinet secretary and the First Civil Service Commissioner.[4]
Cabinet
[edit]The responsibilities of the job vary from time to time and depend very much on the personal qualities of both the prime minister and cabinet secretary of the day. In most cases the true influence of the cabinet secretary extends far beyond administrative matters, and reaches to the very heart of the decision-making process. For instance, the cabinet secretary is responsible for administering the Ministerial Code which governs the conduct of ministers (also known as the Rule Book and formerly Questions of Procedure for Ministers). In this duty the cabinet secretary may be asked to investigate leaks within government, and enforce Cabinet discipline. Unusually in a democracy, this gives the unelected cabinet secretary some authority over elected ministers (a situation satirised in the BBC sitcom Yes, Prime Minister), although the constitutional authority of the code is somewhat ambiguous.
Intelligence
[edit]The cabinet secretary is responsible for overseeing the intelligence services and their relationship to the government, though since 2002 this responsibility has been delegated to a full-time role (initially as Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator, now the National Security Adviser), with the cabinet secretary focussing on civil service reforms to help deliver the government's policy programme.
Appointment
[edit]Previously the Cabinet Secretary was appointed on the advice of the outgoing incumbent.[5] The 2024 appointment process consisted of shortlisted candidates took "leadership assessments" and an interview chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner Gisela Stuart, Brian McBride (Lead Non Executive Director MoD, and Non-Executive member of the Civil Service Senior Leadership Committee), Gus O’Donnell (former Cabinet Secretary) and Dame Sharon White (former Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury). The appointment will be made by the Prime Minister.[6]
2011 restructuring
[edit]It was announced on 11 October 2011 that Gus O'Donnell would retire at the end of 2011, and following this the three roles then performed by the cabinet secretary would be split: the cabinet secretary would provide policy advice to the prime minister and Cabinet; the Head of the Civil Service would provide leadership for the whole civil service; and the permanent secretary would oversee the Cabinet Office.[7] It was announced later that the officeholders would be Jeremy Heywood as cabinet secretary, Bob Kerslake as Head of the Civil Service, and Ian Watmore as permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office.[8]
In July 2014 it was announced that Kerslake would step down and Heywood would take the title of head of the Civil Service with a chief executive of the Civil Service reporting to Heywood and holding Watmore's post at the Cabinet Office. Heywood's retirement on health grounds was announced on 24 October 2018, and he was replaced by Mark Sedwill. As of January 2025[update], Sir Chris Wormald is Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service and Cat Little is Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary and COO of the Civil Service; as such, the 2011 restructuring has been partially undone and two of O'Donnell's roles are again held by the same person, while the third has remained separate.
List of cabinet secretaries
[edit]| # | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Term of office | Concurrent office(s) | Peerage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Sir Maurice Hankey (1877–1963) |
1916 | 1938 | Clerk of the Privy Council | Baron Hankey in 1939 |
| 2 | Sir Edward Bridges (1892–1969) |
1938 | 1946 | Head of the Home Civil Service Permanent Secretary to the Treasury |
Baron Bridges in 1957 | |
| 3 | Sir Norman Brook (1902–1967) |
1947 | 1962 | Head of the Home Civil Service Permanent Secretary to the Treasury |
Baron Normanbrook in 1962 | |
| 4 | 
|
Sir Burke Trend (1914–1987) |
1963 | 1972 | Baron Trend in 1974 for life | |
| 5 | Sir John Hunt (1919–2008) |
1973 | 1979 | Baron Hunt of Tanworth in 1980 for life | ||
| 6 | 
|
Sir Robert Armstrong (1927–2020) |
1979 | 1987 | Head of the Home Civil Service | Baron Armstrong of Ilminster in 1988 for life |
| 7 | 
|
Sir Robin Butler (b. 1938) |
1988 | 1998 | Head of the Home Civil Service | Baron Butler of Brockwell in 1998 for life |
| 8 | 
|
Sir Richard Wilson (b. 1942) |
1998 | 2002 | Head of the Home Civil Service | Baron Wilson of Dinton in 2002 for life |
| 9 | 
|
Sir Andrew Turnbull (b. 1945) |
1 September 2002 | 1 March 2005 | Head of the Home Civil Service | Baron Turnbull in 2005 for life |
| 10 | 
|
Sir Gus O'Donnell (b. 1952) |
1 March 2005 | 31 December 2011 | Head of the Home Civil Service | Baron O'Donnell in 2012 for life |
| 11 | .jpg)
|
Sir Jeremy Heywood (1961–2018) |
1 January 2012 | 24 October 2018 | Head of the Home Civil Service | Baron Heywood of Whitehall in 2018 for life |
| 12 | .jpg)
|
Sir Mark Sedwill (b. 1964) |
24 October 2018 | 9 September 2020 | Head of the Home Civil Service | Baron Sedwill in 2020 for life |
| 13 | .jpg)
|
Simon Case (b. 1978) |
9 September 2020 | 16 December 2024 | Head of the Home Civil Service | |
| 14 |
|
Sir Chris Wormald (b. 1968) |
16 December 2024 | Head of the Home Civil Service | ||
Timeline of cabinet secretaries
[edit]
See also
[edit]- Prime Minister's Office
- Private Secretary
- Principal Private Secretary
- Permanent secretary
- Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government
- Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service
- Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government
References
[edit]- ^ "Prime Minister appoints Sir Chris Wormald as new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Service".
- ^ "Development of Cabinet government". The National Archives.
- ^ Sampson, Anthony (1982). The Changing Anatomy of Britain. Hodder and Stoughton. p. 171. ISBN 0-340-20964-X.
- ^ Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (15 June 2005). "Sir Gus O'Donnell". Downing Street Says (unofficial record). Archived from the original on 13 July 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
- ^ HM Government (11 October 2011). "Cabinet Secretary announces retirement". Number 10 website. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ Civil Service Live Network. "Kerslake to head the civil service with promise of 'visible leadership'". Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
