Guido’s Downing Street sources corroborate last night’s briefing to the Times that Chris Wormald is on the way out as Cabinet Secretary, although there’s some scepticism he will be succeeded by Louise Casey. Some insiders says she’s not yet a “slam dunk” given she’s never been a Permanent Secretary and “isn’t exactly impartial anymore“. Antonia Romeo is the dark horse candidate…
Number 10’s spokesman claimed the PM still supports Wormald at the post-PMQs lobby huddle today, though in Starmer’s Number 10 that is usually the kiss of death anyway. Behind closed doors, Guido’s sources insist Wormald is “toast” and reality has finally dawned on Starmer as well. One whisperer told Guido “it was only a matter of time“. The Number 10 spokesman added the PM “would like things to move further and faster” when asked if he was frustrated with the speed of delivery across Whitehall. Put it this way: when Maguire and Pogrund get the well-sourced briefing, you’d better start packing your bags if your name happens to be Chris Wormald…