Civil service boss caught up in Partygate scandal to step down on health grounds

Simon Case, who has been undergoing treatment for a neurological condition, said he was quitting for 'my health and nothing to do with anything else' after rumours of No10 tensions

The UK's top civil servant who was caught up in the Partygate scandal will quit at the end of the year.

Simon Case, who has been undergoing treatment for a neurological condition, told colleagues that he would step down as Cabinet Secretary at the end of the year on health grounds.

His departure comes after a turbulent few weeks for No10 and follows rumours of tensions between Mr Case and Keir Starmer's top aide Sue Gray.

But in a letter to colleagues, Mr Case said: "It is a shame that I feel I have to spell this out, but my decision is solely to do with my health and nothing to do with anything else." He said that "whilst the spirit remains willing, the body is not".

The head of the civil service is supposed to stay out of the limelight but Mr Case has found himself in the headlines since he took on the role in September 2020.

He was appointed to lead the Partygate probe but had to hand over to Ms Gray after it emerged that a staff quiz had been held in his office, which he didn't attend.

Mr Case was also pictured laughing with Boris Johnson at an impromptu birthday bash for the ex-PM in Downing Street in June 2020.

Mr Johnson was fined by police for attending the surprise event but Mr Case avoided sanction.

The civil service boss was also forced to apologise earlier this year for saying Boris Johnson "cannot lead" and "the people he chooses to surround himself with are basically feral" in WhatsApps disclosed to the Covid Inquiry.

In the messages, Mr Case accused Mr Johnson of a "danger of becoming Trump/Bolsonaro level mad and dangerous" and his indecisiveness made it "impossible" to govern. He also suggested Mr Johnson’s wife had undue influence in Downing Street, joking that “the real person in charge is Carrie”.

Recruitment for the £200,000-a-year role is underway.