Cabinet Secretary Frontrunner Faced Multiple Bullying Complaints in New Scrutiny

Published: 18 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The leading candidate to become the next UK cabinet secretary — the most senior official in the civil service — has come under renewed scrutiny after reports emerged that she faced multiple bullying complaints during a previous posting abroad, according to documents seen by the BBC. Dame Antonia Romeo, currently a senior civil servant at the Home Office and widely seen as the frontrunner to succeed Sir Chris Wormald, was reportedly investigated over her conduct while serving as the UK’s consul general in New York a decade ago, with critics now questioning whether past concerns about her management style should affect her suitability for the top civil service job.

Government sources have maintained that the official record shows “only one” formal complaint was ever lodged and that it was thoroughly investigated at the time, with the Cabinet Office concluding there was “no case to answer”. Downing Street and the prime minister’s office have defended Romeo’s record and leadership, with a spokesperson saying her “25 years of public service” and experience in three permanent secretary roles demonstrate she is a strong candidate for the role.

However, former colleagues and insiders have told the BBC that the official account understates the level of concern raised about Romeo’s behaviour while in New York between 2016 and 2017. According to sources familiar with the internal documents, several complaints — ranging from comments about her management approach to criticism of how she interacted with staff — were bundled into a single dossier and sent back to London, rather than being treated as separate cases. These sources argued that presenting the matter as “one complaint” misrepresents the scale of worries raised at the time.

The documents seen by the BBC reportedly describe staff who felt they were treated in ways they found “unreasonable,” “degrading” or “demeaning,” and at least one colleague said the atmosphere became one of “fear and anxiety” under her leadership. Some internal testimony also criticised what they described as a focus on promoting Romeo’s personal profile rather than the work of the UK mission.

Supporters of Romeo, including senior Whitehall officials, have pushed back against the resurfaced claims, saying they were never upheld after an in‑depth review and that she learned from any earlier feedback on her style. They point out that no similar complaints have emerged in her subsequent senior roles — including leading major departments — and say that turning away from allegations from nearly a decade ago would be unfair.

The controversy arrives at a delicate moment for the UK government. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer moved to reshape his top team following a political scandal that saw the departure of Sir Chris Wormald and other senior advisers, and a potential appointment of Romeo would mark the first time a woman has held the post of cabinet secretary. But some critics, including former senior civil servants, have called for a more thorough and transparent recruitment process for such an influential position, arguing the allegations — even dismissed — deserve proper consideration in vetting.

Romeo’s defenders stress that the civil service operates on principles of professionalism and due process, and say that revisiting resolved HR cases now could undermine confidential personnel procedures. They also highlight her successful leadership in several departments and her reputation among many officials as a dynamic and effective administrator.

At the same time, senior figures within Whitehall have warned that lingering resentment about senior appointments and handling of past complaints could affect morale among staff and contribute to broader unease in the civil service during a period of political uncertainty. They emphasise that the role of cabinet secretary — responsible for advising the prime minister, leading the civil service and ensuring impartial public administration — requires both strong leadership and widespread confidence from within the system.

As the discussion continues, the resurfaced complaints have sparked debate about leadership culture in the public sector, the weight that past behaviour should carry in senior appointments, and the transparency of vetting processes for top civil service roles. For now, Romeo remains the favourite, but the controversy is likely to shape perceptions of her candidacy in the coming weeks.

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