Boris Johnson claims civil service boss 'wanted to move on' amid backlash over departure

Move comes amid plans for a major shake-up of Whitehall, driven by PM's top aide Dominic Cummings

Boris Johnson has insisted that his top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill ”wanted to move on” amid claims that the senior mandarin was forced out as part of Downing Streets effort to shake up Whitehall.

The prime minister faced a backlash over Sir Mark's resignation from his role as both cabinet secretary and the UK's national security adviser on Sunday after months of negative briefings to newspapers about his record.

Former mandarins criticised the decision to appoint David Frost, the prime minister's Brexit aide, to replace him as national security adviser - a post traditionally held by an impartial civil servant, rather than a political appointee.

His departure comes amid plans for a major shake-up of Whitehall, driven by Mr Johnson's top aide Dominic Cummings, with plans to fold the department for international development into the foreign office in September.

The prime minister told Sky News: “Sir Mark has done a fantastic job. He wants to move on. He’s a very, very distinguished public servant. He’s done just about everything you can think of across Whitehall.

“He was in Afghanistan, he ran the Home Office – some of the toughest gigs – he was national security adviser and I have no doubt he will continue to offer a huge amount to this country, both nationally and internationally."

Mr Johnson insisted it was a "very logical" time for Sir Mark to move on despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis and looming economic fallout from the pandemic.

He dismissed claims that he was planning to install a Brexiteer as head of the civil service following tensions between former Vote Leave officials in Downing Street and the more cautious Whitehall machine.

The prime minister said: "I think the great thing about the civil service is that nobody should know, least of all me. I think we have a wonderful civil service.

"They are impartial, they are the best in the world, and who knows what his or her views will be."

Ex-cabinet secretary Lord O'Donnell expressed concerns about bringing in Mr Frost, saying political appointees were "more likely to be yes-men" rather than "speaking truth to power".

"I'm worried about the appointment of David Frost as national security adviser because I'm not quite sure how putting a special adviser in that role works," he told the Today programme.

He said parachuting a special adviser into the role was "clearly an example" of the civil service's impartiality is being eroded.

The crossbench peer said: "It's a problem because political appointees are there and they are more likely to be subject to group-think, more likely to be yes-men, more likely to say what it is ministers want to hear as opposed to giving good, objective, speaking truth to power which is what it's all about."

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents civil servants, said: "No 10, or those around it, has sought to undermine Sir Mark and the leadership of the Civil Service, with a series of anonymous briefings against him over many months."

He said the tactics were "corrosive and cowardly" and said the government would be "weaker as a result" of Sir Mark's departure.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said it was "obvious" that the prime minister was determined to move the top civil servant.

"Why you do so in the middle of a pandemic and a crisis instead of actually focusing on the crisis, is a question the Prime Minister needs to answer," he said.

The recruitment process will begin shortly from a pool of existing and former permanent secretaries.