Sir Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure from his cabinet ministers to dismiss Simon Case, the top civil servant in Whitehall. The Cabinet Secretary has come under fire for allegedly undermining the Prime Minister and his reported role in briefings against Sir Keir’s chief of staff, Sue Gray.
An impatient minister didn’t mince words: “He [Case] has got to go now.” While Mr. Case has denied any misconduct, he has been tasked with investigating the recent damaging leaks from No. 10, including the revelation that Ms. Gray’s salary exceeds that of the Prime Minister.
Many senior ministers have expressed their frustration at the ongoing leaks and briefings against the fledgling Labour government, which they feel are jeopardizing its stability. One minister directly accused Case of “poisoning the well of government,” and urged that his removal be swift to preserve Sir Keir’s authority.
“He really should go now,” another minister said, stating that they had raised their concerns with the Prime Minister. They added that waiting longer would only lead to further harm to the new government.
Insiders describe Mr. Case’s exit as inevitable, with one noting, “Case is scheduled to leave at the end of the year, but another 12 weeks of infighting is not viable.” The ongoing feud between Case and Gray, coupled with his role in past scandals, has led some to question why he’s still in office.
Some in Westminster are offering stark choices to Starmer, summing up his options as “Stop Overt Self-harm, Save Our Sue, or Shuffle Out Simon.” The continuing discord is creating distractions at a critical time, with Labour still adjusting to power after nearly 15 years in opposition.
Another source compared Mr. Case to his predecessor Sir Gus O’Donnell, saying: “When you were in the room with Gus, you felt you were in the presence of someone deeply substantial and knowledgeable. When you are in the room with Simon Case, you just feel he is present.”
Ministers Rally Behind Sue Gray Amid Bitter Feud
Ms. Gray, once one of the top civil servants during the Conservative government, left her position to join Sir Keir Starmer’s team after Mr. Case allegedly vetoed her appointment to a key role in the Department of Business and Trade.
The feud between the two has since escalated, with senior ministers now rallying behind Gray, calling her “brilliant” and “the engine of so much that is good.”
Cabinet members have expressed dismay at the “poisonous briefings” targeting Gray. One minister described her as “a calming influence” and someone “who knows the civil service and which buttons to press inside out.” They argue that Gray is essential to the new government’s operations and view the attacks on her as unjustified.
Despite the calls for immediate action, some ministers believe the timing of Mr. Case’s exit is complicated. “Case is going anyway, so what is the point of doing it before a successor is decided?” questioned one minister.
Sources close to Starmer have indicated that the Prime Minister was initially inclined to keep Mr. Case in place for a few more months to maintain continuity as Labour transitions back into power.
However, growing frustration is becoming evident, with ministers expressing concerns that the civil service is not adapting quickly enough to Labour’s agenda.
This internal conflict comes at a time when the government is under scrutiny for issues ranging from controversial gifts to damaging leaks about Ms. Gray’s pay and influence.
The pressure on Starmer to assert his authority over the civil service is intensifying, with many feeling that decisive action against Case is long overdue.
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