Simon Case’s departure is an opportunity for Starmer

Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, has finally put an end to Whitehall’s worst-kept secret by formally announcing that he will quit at the end of the year. It means the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer can finally appoint his own man or woman in the role of the country’s most senior civil servant. Case is leaving his £200,000-a-year job on health grounds, telling colleagues: ‘Whilst the spirit remains willing, the body is not’. He added: ‘It’s been an honour to serve two sovereigns, four prime ministers and over 120 cabinet ministers in this role.’

Case has been in the job since September 2020, when he replaced Sir Mark Sedwill. His tenure in was dogged by the partygate scandal, during which he had to recuse himself from the official investigation into lockdown-busting gatherings after it was revealed a party was held in his own office. Sue Gray subsequently led the investigation, before she announced she was quitting the civil service to become Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff.