Civil service chief got record £500,000 payout after Starmer dismissal

<p>Chris Wormald received unprecedented payment after serving as cabinet secretary for just 14 months</p><p>The former head of the civil service Chris Wormald received a record payout, in the region of £500,000, when he was forced out of the top job in Whitehall by Keir Starmer, it has emerged.</p><p>The unprecedented payment was made after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/12/chris-wormald-steps-down-cabinet-secretary-starmer">Wormald served just 14 months in the role of cabinet secretary</a> before being replaced by Antonia Romeo.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/18/civil-service-chief-got-record-500000-payout-after-starmer-dismissal">Continue reading...</a>