UK chief official steps down as Johnson’s adviser seeks change

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s top official has resigned on Sunday after reports of clashes with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s top political adviser, part of what is expected to be a broader shake-up of officials at the center of power. .

Johnson’s senior political adviser Dominic Cummings has long criticized the civil service, saying the government is not agile enough to effect change. Some newspapers reported that they warned attendees last week that “a heavy rain is going to fall.”

Earlier this year, Johnson forced the resignation of his finance minister, tightening his grip on the treasury, and just earlier this month announced the merger of his diplomatic and aid departments.

Mark Sedwill, a career diplomat, was appointed Cabinet Secretary and National Security Adviser by Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May. In a letter to Johnson on Sunday, he wrote that, having remained in the “acute phase” of the coronavirus crisis, he was now leaving as “the government’s focus is now shifting towards national and global recovery and renewal” .

He said he would leave government service in late September.

Johnson’s office issued a letter thanking Sedwill for his “outstanding service” and asking him to lead a new G7 panel on global economic security as Britain takes over the presidency of the wealthy group of nations and hosts its summit on next year.

David Frost, Britain’s chief negotiator with the European Union, will replace Sedwill as national security adviser in late August and there will be a competition to appoint a new cabinet secretary and head of public administration.

The main opposition party of the Great Britain Labor Party raised questions about the timing of the move. Helen Hayes, chief policy officer following the cabinet office, said: “The day it was revealed that millions of jobs across the country could be threatened in the coming months, it is very worrying that Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings are concerned about rearrange Whitehall. ”

Johnson’s team has come under fire for its response to the coronavirus crisis, accused by opposition parties and some scientists of being too slow to face the pandemic.

Britain now has one of the highest death rates from disease in the world and both the Bank of England and government budget forecasters have warned of the possibility of rising unemployment as the government gradually removes support measures temporary for workers affected by the closure measures.

Sedwill also received most of the criticism from Brexit supporters during Britain’s previous negotiations with the EU about his exit from the bloc, and some conservatives accused him of not doing enough to prepare for an alleged exit without an agreement.

Earlier Sunday, Interior Minister Priti Patel hinted that there could be changes.

“This is the government of the people, fulfilling the priorities of the people, and indeed, any reformist government will be based on the type of delivery that our prime minister wants to promote for our great country and obviously will have the right type of support around him to achieve it. ” “He told Sky News.