Former top civil servant received pay-off of nearly £860,000

Lord Chris Wormald, who became the United Kingdom’s cabinet secretary and head of the Civil Service in December 2024, left the post in February 2025 after just ten months, making him the shortest‑serving holder of the office. His departure was described as a “mutual agreement” following months of speculation that Downing Downing Street was dissatisfied with his performance. The Cabinet Office’s external accounts reveal a total severance package of £859,495, comprising £332,897 in contractual compensation and £526,598 in additional severance. The payment, authorised by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on 16 February, was intended to cover Wormald’s pension contributions and a mandatory waiting period after his exit, allowing him to receive the full value of his pension rather than a reduced amount for early payment. During his brief tenure his salary for the period 1 April 2025 to 13 February 2025 was between £210,000 and £215,000, bringing his annual earnings to over £1 million.

The size of the payout has sparked political controversy, with Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart accusing Sir Keir of “wasting taxpayers’ money” and framing the severance as part of a broader pattern of civil‑service dismissals. The FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, condemned the manner of Wormald’s removal, describing the “anonymous briefings” against him as a “new low” for the government’s relationship with the civil service. Critics have also questioned whether Wormald, a career civil servant, was the right choice to lead the “complete re‑wiring of the British state” that Sir Keir had promised, given the ambitious reform agenda attached to his appointment.

Despite the contentious exit, Wormald was elevated to the House of Lords in one of Sir Keir’s final acts as prime minister, receiving a life peerage as an independent crossbench member. He is scheduled to take his seat on Thursday, signalling his continued involvement in public life even after his brief stint at the heart of government. The Cabinet Office declined to comment on the human‑resources aspects of the case, noting that the exchange of letters authorising the payment is part of the public record. Both Lord Wormald and Sir Keir have been approached for comment by the BBC, but no response has been provided to date.

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