Former Top Civil Servant Received Pay-off of Nearly £860,000
BBC News
Source: PA Media
Authors: Joe Pike, Political Correspondent, and Richard Wheeler, Political Reporter
Published: 14 September 2026, 17:08 BST
Updated: 27 minutes ago
A former top civil servant, Lord Wormald, received a record pay-off of nearly £860,000 after being forced out of his post by Sir Keir Starmer just 14 months after the then-prime minister appointed him.
Key Points:
- Pay-off Details: There was "contractual compensation" of £332,897 and "additional severance" of £526,598.
- Reason for Pay-off: Partly to cover Lord Wormald’s pension contributions, a mandatory "waiting period" following his departure from government, and his salary for the period leading up to his removal.
- Salary: His salary for 1 April 2025 to 13 February was between £210,000 and £215,000, bringing his total for the year to over £1 million.
- Authorization: Sir Keir authorized the "special severance package" on 16 February.
- Criticism: Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart criticized the payout, calling it "another appalling waste of taxpayers’ money by Labour."
Quote:
"The majority of the total severance payment was used to ensure he could access the full value of his pension that would have been due at normal retirement age, rather than it being reduced for early payment." — From the Cabinet Office accounts.
Background:
- Lord Wormald was appointed cabinet secretary and head of the Civil Service in December 2024.
- He was tasked with "the complete re-wiring of the British state to deliver bold and ambitious long-term reform."
- His departure in February 2026 made him the shortest-serving cabinet secretary in history.
- He was later given a seat in the House of Lords.
