Sir Philip Barton, the top civil servant at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), will step down from his role in January, concluding a tenure that began in 2020.
This move means Sir Philip will leave before completing the typical five-year term, unlike his predecessors.
Appointed as permanent secretary in 2020, Sir Philip Barton faced substantial criticism during his time in office.
Notably, in 2022, MPs scrutinised his leadership for the handling of the chaotic UK withdrawal from Kabul after the Taliban’s rapid takeover.
His decision to take a 17-day holiday during the crisis was highly controversial, a move he later admitted to regretting during a Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee session.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has acknowledged Sir Philip’s service, commending his integrity and dependable leadership.
However, with the shift to the current government, it was mutually decided that the time had come to begin the search for a new permanent secretary. Sir Philip announced his decision in an internal email to FCDO staff on Monday.
Throughout his four-year term as permanent secretary, Sir Philip Barton worked under five foreign secretaries: Dominic Raab, Liz Truss, James Cleverly, Lord Cameron, and David Lammy.
His notable career in public service includes serving as high commissioner to Islamabad, deputy head of mission in Washington, and director of foreign policy with oversight for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He also held the position of acting chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee at the Cabinet Office.
Sir Philip’s departure adds to the significant civil service vacancies the government needs to fill, including the cabinet secretary, national security adviser, and UK ambassador to Washington.
This announcement marks a pivotal moment for the FCDO and underscores the continued reshaping of top-tier UK government positions.
