Chris Wormald, the former head of the civil service, has received a payout estimated at £500,000 following his departure from the role. Wormald served as cabinet secretary for 14 months before being replaced by Antonia Romeo under the administration of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The size of the payout has drawn attention due to the procedural steps required to authorize it. Cat Little, the permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office, reportedly requested a ministerial direction from the Prime Minister in February. This formal mechanism is used when a civil servant has concerns that a proposed expenditure does not represent the best use of public funds, effectively shifting the responsibility for the decision to the government minister.

While the payout is described as a record for a departure of this nature, the specific contractual terms that triggered such a high figure have not been fully disclosed to the public. The situation highlights the tension between standard civil service severance practices and the government's stated commitment to fiscal oversight. The Guardian reports that the payment was made after Wormald was effectively forced out of the position, though the government has not provided a detailed justification for the specific amount beyond the necessity of the ministerial direction process.