UK’s top civil servant to resign

Sir Mark Sedwill, the UK's top civil servant, has announced that he will stand down from the role in September.

He has announced this, prompting anger from former colleagues who say he has been unfairly smeared by Boris Johnson’s aides over the government’s coronavirus failings and for supposedly blocking changes in Whitehall.

After weeks of tense negotiations over his job, Sedwill said in a letter to the prime minister that he would quit as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service.

His other role as national security adviser will be taken by Johnson’s chief Brexit adviser, David Frost.

The senior civil servants' union, the FDA, said Sir Mark had been undermined in a "cowardly" way.

FDA General Secretary Dave Penman accused unnamed Downing Street officials of briefing against Sir Mark.

He added: "Not only is it a self-defeating and corrosive tactic, it's also a cowardly one, safe in the knowledge that those who are briefed against are unable to publicly respond."


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