In a historic first for Britain’s civil service, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as cabinet secretary, making her the first woman in the role’s 110-year history and placing her at the apex of Whitehall’s powerful administrative machinery.Romeo, 51, now becomes the UK government’s most senior civil servant and head of the civil service, responsible for ensuring ministerial decisions are implemented and advising the prime minister at the highest level.

She replaces Chris Wormald, whose abrupt departure after just over a year in office made him the shortest-serving cabinet secretary in history.Her appointment marks not only a milestone for gender representation in Britain’s top bureaucratic post but also highlights Starmer’s intent to prioritise delivery, efficiency and reform at a time when his government faces pressure to translate political promises into tangible results.

What Starmer said about her appointment

Announcing her appointment, Starmer described Romeo as “an outstanding public servant, with a 25-year record of delivering for the British people,” and showcased her reputation as a results-driven administrator.“Since becoming prime minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and determination to get things done,” he said, adding that her leadership would help drive reforms and support the government’s priorities, including strengthening public services and addressing the cost-of-living challenges facing families.The remarks also reflect Starmer’s broader push to improve the government’s ability to execute policy, a recurring frustration for many UK prime ministers.

Who is Antonia Romeo?

Dame Antonia Rebecca Caroline Angharad Catherine Romeo, born Antonia Rice-Evans in London in 1974, is a career civil servant with one of the most extensive leadership portfolios in modern Whitehall.Educated at Westminster School and Oxford University, where she studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Romeo initially worked as a business consultant before joining government service. Her rise was swift, earning her senior roles across multiple departments.Over the past decade, she has served as permanent secretary, the top civil servant, in three of Britain’s most powerful ministries: the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for International Trade. In these roles, she oversaw major policy programmes, departmental reforms and operational delivery. She also served as Britain’s consul general in New York, representing UK economic and diplomatic interests in the United States, where she gained prominence for her high-profile diplomatic work and extensive international network.

Controversies and scrutiny

Her career has not been without controversy. Romeo faced allegations of bullying and questions over expenses during her diplomatic tenure in New York. However, official investigations concluded there was “no case to answer,” and government sources emphasised that she underwent a thorough due diligence process before her appointment.Supporters have dismissed the allegations as exaggerated and pointed to her track record of performance and leadership across multiple departments.

A powerful and demanding role

As cabinet secretary, Romeo will sit alongside the prime minister in cabinet meetings and act as the central link between ministers and the civil service. She will oversee the implementation of government policies and manage Britain’s vast administrative system.Her appointment is being seen as both symbolic and strategic, breaking a long-standing gender barrier while bringing in an experienced insider tasked with improving Whitehall’s effectiveness.For Romeo, the moment represents both personal achievement and institutional change. As she put it, the role is a “huge privilege,” and she has vowed to ensure the Civil Service is “known for delivery, efficiency and innovation.”Her success and survival, in one of Britain’s toughest public service jobs, will now depend on whether she can deliver on the prime minister’s central demand: getting things done.