Top UK civil servant Simon Case quits

LONDON — Britain’s most senior civil servant Simon Case confirmed his resignation on health grounds Monday after a controversial four-year tenure heading up the government machine.

The U.K. government announced Monday afternoon that Case would stand down at the end of the year — and swiftly posted a job advert to find a successor for the £200,000-a-year role.

POLITICO first reported in July that Case planned to step down on health grounds. He has been undergoing medical treatment for a neurological condition.

In a message to Britain’s civil service staff, Case said “whilst the spirit remains willing, the body is not. It is a shame that I feel I have to spell this out, but my decision is solely to do with my health and nothing to do with anything else.”

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Case during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He was brought in from a spell at Kensington Palace serving Britain’s royals and had never led a government department — a move seen as a snub to some long-serving permanent secretaries at the time.

White fêted for his competence and intellect, his detractors argued he acted more as a political courtier than a top civil servant. He was removed of his role investigating potentially rule-breaching lockdown parties in Downing Street after POLITICO reported that he had attended events himself. Case also clashed with former top Whitehall official Sue Gray, now chief of staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

But Case said in his note to staff there had been “far more ups than downs” during his tenure.

He appeared to address criticisms of the civil service — after politicians at times accused it of bias against Brexit or against Conservative values.

“We must remain servants of others,” Case said. “We should resist the temptation to become the arbiters of, or participants in, legitimate democratic debate, leaving party politics to politicians and demonstrating our enduring and profound belief in democracy through the service of the elected government of the day.”

Starmer will appoint a successor through what the government says will be an open and transparent process.

Shadow Chief secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott told Times Radio Monday afternoon that Case had been “a redoubtable and excellent permanent secretary.”

“Anybody who takes on that role should have our respect,” the Conservative frontbencher said. “It is not an easy role. It’s a very important role in government, and it’s one that they absolutely need to get right.”