Appointment of Antonia Romeo as head of civil service shows ‘poor judgment’ say former colleagues

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Kiran Stacey Policy editorFebruary 19, 2026 at 06:53 PM
Appointment of Antonia Romeo as head of civil service shows ‘poor judgment’ say former colleagues

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Keir Starmer's appointment of Antonia Romeo as the UK's top civil servant is facing criticism due to past allegations of bullying. Former colleagues who worked with Romeo at the New York consulate nearly a decade ago have expressed dismay, citing a formal complaint filed against her in 2017. Although a senior diplomat found she had a case to answer, the complaint was dismissed by the Cabinet Office at the time. Despite renewed calls for further investigation, Starmer defended his decision, praising Romeo's record. Critics argue the appointment demonstrates poor judgment and overlooks concerns raised by those who claim to have been bullied by her. Government sources maintain the allegations are old and were previously dismissed.

Keywords

antonia romeo 100% civil service 90% bullying allegations 80% keir starmer 70% appointment 70% poor judgment 60% cabinet secretary 60% complaint 50% due diligence 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative
Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source
The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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