Britain's most senior civil servant could soon be forced to step down

Britain’s most senior civil servant could soon be forced to step down after being sidelined by PM Rishi Sunak, sources claim

• Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is said to no longer be attending all key meetings 

Britain’s most senior civil servant has been sidelined by Rishi Sunak and could soon step down, it was claimed yesterday.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is said to no longer be attending all key meetings, with the Prime Minister preferring to deal directly with officials from relevant government departments.

The claim was reported by The Sunday Times, which cited allies of Mr Case, 44, who said it is simply a ‘stylistic change’ in approach.

But critics say trust has broken down between Mr Case, ministers and senior civil servants. It has been sparked by his links to BBC chairman Richard Sharp’s resignation on Friday over his role in facilitating an £800,000 loan for former PM Boris Johnson.

Britain’s most senior civil servant Simon Casehas been sidelined by Rishi Sunak and could soon step down, it was claimed yesterday

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is said to no longer be attending all key meetings, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) preferring to deal directly with officials from relevant government departments

Mr Sharp, 67, told Adam Heppinstall KC that he had mentioned his then-live BBC application during a meeting with Mr Case in December 2020 when the pair discussed Mr Johnson’s financial situation.

Mr Sharp said he presumed Mr Case, a former private secretary to Prince William, would pass on any potential conflict of interest to those who needed to know.

Mr Case initially appeared to support this version of events, but later said he could not recall. It is the latest in a string of controversies surrounding him. There are now rumours he is preparing to leave his role after the Coronation to take a job in academia, but a source last night denied this.

Yesterday Transport Secretary Mark Harper insisted Mr Sunak and Mr Case ‘have a good working relationship’. The Cabinet Office did not respond to a request for comment.

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