Starmer Accused of Creating ‘Toxic Downing Street’

Published: 23 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire for allegedly creating a “toxic environment” in Downing Street, following reports that a briefing campaign targeted his top civil servant, Sir Chris Wormald. The controversy has raised fresh questions about the management of the Prime Minister’s office and his approach to reforming the Civil Service.

Allies of Sir Chris, the Cabinet Secretary, rejected claims that he is a “parody of every Civil Service stereotype” or obstructs change in No 10. The civil servant, who has held the post for less than a year, is said to have been targeted after failing to implement Labour’s key priorities as swiftly as some ministers would have liked. Critics allege that Sir Chris insists on extensive consultation before enacting new policies, slowing efforts to “rewire the state” and make Whitehall more agile.

As the most senior civil servant in the country, Sir Chris attends Cabinet meetings and oversees all Whitehall officials. His prior experience includes serving as permanent secretary in both the Department for Education and the Department of Health, managing operations during the pandemic. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary last July following the departure of Lord Case, who welcomed Sir Keir into office.

According to one Whitehall source, Sir Chris is “not really a doer” and prefers “to talk about problems rather than fix them,” adding that frustrations with him are “not a secret.” However, allies of the Cabinet Secretary argue that the public criticism amounts to a damaging political briefing campaign, leaving him exposed and undermining trust within Downing Street.

One insider described the situation as “appalling,” noting that the Prime Minister “allowed his people to brief against” Sir Chris. They added: “The Prime Minister chose Chris over other candidates who are less experienced but probably more radically-minded, and knew exactly what he was getting, so this is all very bemusing. He has developed a habit of hiring people, blaming them and then firing them. Criticism of Sir Chris is the latest in a long-established pattern of behaviour. He has created a toxic and low-trust environment in Downing Street.”

Another government source acknowledged that while the Prime Minister has every right to dismiss officials, the public airing of grievances is “too far” and lacks dignity. “People deserve dignity on the way out, not a briefing campaign in the national media,” the source said.

Sir Keir has experienced significant staff turnover in recent months, losing two directors of communications, two policy officials, and a strategy adviser. A source close to No 10 observed that the Prime Minister has now lost many of his longest-serving allies from Labour’s opposition years, leaving him to govern with fewer trusted confidants around him.

The story that Sir Chris may be sacked first surfaced in The Times on Tuesday night but was denied by Sir Keir’s official spokesman on Wednesday. The spokesperson confirmed that the Cabinet Secretary “continues to have the support of the Prime Minister” and that they are working together on government priorities, including restructuring the civil service to enhance delivery for the British public. The spokesman noted that the Prime Minister is keen to see reforms implemented “further and faster,” and that the goal of “rewiring the state” remains a central priority.

Multiple sources told The Telegraph that while there is widespread frustration with Sir Chris, the focus is on the civil servant’s perceived embodiment of the traditional system, rather than personal incompetence. “Everyone thinks he’s going to go,” said one Labour insider. “We need more of a reformer in there, who wants to change things.”

Baroness Casey, former victims commissioner and current adviser to the grooming gangs inquiry, has been suggested as a potential replacement if Sir Chris leaves. Her appointment would signal a decisive shift toward reform-minded leadership within the heart of Whitehall.

The unfolding situation highlights the delicate balance between political leadership and civil service neutrality. While reforming the bureaucracy remains a key goal for Sir Keir, critics argue that the handling of senior officials risks eroding morale and creating instability at the centre of government.

As Downing Street navigates the controversy, the broader implications for Whitehall culture and the Prime Minister’s leadership style remain under close scrutiny. Observers suggest that the ongoing turnover of senior staff could hamper policy delivery while also intensifying internal tensions, potentially shaping the Labour government’s approach to governance in its early months.