{"id":89955,"date":"2026-02-12T07:28:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T07:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/?p=89955"},"modified":"2026-02-12T07:28:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T07:28:37","slug":"is-keir-starmer-still-fit-to-be-prime-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/2026\/02\/12\/is-keir-starmer-still-fit-to-be-prime-minister\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Keir Starmer still fit to be Prime Minister?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After two debacles that have demonstrated a massive lack of judgment in appointments made by Keir Starmer since becoming Prime Minister, both of which have created serious ramifications, he is about to create a third.<\/p>\n

Starmer has now sacked Chris Wormauld, the Cabinet Secretary, whom he appointed after about a year in office - a surprisingly short term in office.<\/p>\n

It is widely reported that he intends to replace him with Dame Antonio Romeo, who was considered when Wormauld was appointed, without repeating the vetting process, because it is claimed that none is required, as she was vetted a year or so ago.<\/p>\n

Channel 4 News noted this in a quite extraordinary interview<\/a> last night with Lord McDonald last night:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Rarely have I seen a civil servant angrier. He made no attempt to hide it either. He obviously thinks that this appointment would represent a massive error of judgment.<\/p>\n

No. 10 is already making excuses:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

'Some time ago' is doing a mighty lot of work in that claim, and as current evidence shows, it is no excuse at all if serious issues exist with the potential to cause reputational damage to the post she is to be appointed to and to the person appointing her.<\/p>\n

Is Starmer really stupid enough to do this? If he is, we have to assume that all his excuses are no more than that, and that there is a fundamental flaw in his character that is now apparent, which really does require that he be replaced as Prime Minister as soon as possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After two debacles that have demonstrated a massive lack of judgment in appointments made by Keir Starmer since becoming Prime Minister, both of which have
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