‘Whilst the spirit remains willing, the body is not’

Simon Case has introduced that he’ll step down as cupboard secretary and head of the civil service on the finish of this 12 months.

The cab sec, who had been anticipated to depart from the function in January after being recognized with an undisclosed medical situation, introduced his exit at this time in an inner memo seen by CSW. 

“As a lot of , I’ve been present process medical therapy for a neurological situation during the last 18 months and, while the spirit stays keen, the physique just isn’t,” he mentioned.

“It’s a disgrace that I really feel I’ve to spell this out, however my resolution is solely to do with my well being and nothing to do with the rest.”

Case has been the topic of quite a few nameless briefings and media reviews in current months, some speculating that he’s at odds with the prime minister’s chief of employees, Sue Grey; and others blaming him for a sequence of leaks.

“It has been an honour to serve two sovereigns, 4 prime ministers and over 120 cupboard ministers on this function,” mentioned Case, who was appointed cab sec by Boris Johnson in 2020 after a brief stint as No.10 everlasting secretary engaged on the response to the Covid pandemic.

Case used the message saying his departure to focus on the important function of the civil service and the necessity for it to maintain up with a altering world.

“The worldwide context, the relentless evolution of expertise, growing public expectations of the companies they eat and plenty of extra components require us to maintain adapting. On the identical time, the core values of our United Kingdom haven’t modified and so I hope that the civil service will maintain onto its elementary goal and values within the unending process of serving the federal government of the day and, by way of them, the individuals of our nation,” he mentioned.

“We should stay servants of others. We should always resist the temptation to turn into the arbiters of, or contributors in, legit democratic debate, leaving celebration politics to politicians and demonstrating our enduring and profound perception in democracy by way of the service of the elected authorities of the day.”

He pressured the significance of working “throughout organisational boundaries and thru the lens of life far outdoors Whitehall and Westminster”.

“An establishment equivalent to ours can solely play its function in driving out the darkness of ignorance if we stay relentlessly interested in higher methods to know our world and design and ship public companies,” he mentioned.

“Openness to vary makes us higher stewards of the issues that matter, equivalent to, public companies that swimsuit the wants of their customers, development that advantages of the entire of our nation, the preservation of our United Kingdom, the rule of legislation and robust defences constructed on the cornerstone of our nuclear deterrent, succesful safety and intelligence companies and our long-standing alliances.”

The cab sec additionally prolonged his reward to different public servants, writing: “Those that select public service deserve thanks for the selection they’ve made, whether or not that service be in politics, the civil service, the Armed Forces, the emergency companies, our Nationwide Well being Service, native authorities and past,” he mentioned.

“I’ve seen really motivated individuals doing exceptional issues within the pursuit of their nations’ and communities’ pursuits by way of a pandemic, wars, a change of reign, financial emergencies and unprecedented demand for contemporary public companies. I’ve seen so very many colleagues dedicated to their goal, displaying tenacity and ingenuity, while sacrificing their very own private pursuits for others.”

Keir Starmer will appoint Case’s successor following an open recruitment course of run by the primary civil service commissioner, the cab sec mentioned. The commissioner will chair a panel of impartial members who will advise the prime minister on the appointment.