Sir Mark Sedwill, the United Kingdom’s top civil servant, has confirmed that he will step down from his role in September.
Sedwill was serving as the Cabinet Secretary, the top civil service role, as well as acting as national security advisor; he will be stepping down from both positions.
David Frost, the current chief Brexit advisor, will take on the national security role, whilst the next cabinet secretary is yet to be announced.
The resignation of Sedwill – who in a letter to Boris Johnson stated that the time was right for his departure – comes just days after Michael Gove criticised the ‘group think’ within the civil service.
Sedwill upcoming departure marks the latest in a number of key civil servants leaving their posts since the resounding victory won by the Conservatives in the 2019 general election.
One of the top aims of Boris Johnson – and his chief advisor, Dominic Cummings – since coming to power, has been to reform the Civil Service, with many high profile conflicts taking place recently between the government and the Civil Service.
Earlier this year, Home Office chief, Sir Phillip Rutnam, left his post after a bullying scandal involving Home Secretary Priti Patel, with Rutnam attempting to sue the government for unfair dismissal after Boris Johnson asked him to step down.
Sedwill has served as a civil servant for over 20 years, working in the Foreign Office before taking up the position as Cabinet Secretary.
The joint roles he held will now be split and held by separate people, as Boris Johnson looks to rejig the government apparatus.
Photo: Mark Sedwill in Washington, D.C. in 2019 | Photo Credit: Michael Gross/ Public Domain
