A leading candidate for the UK's top civil service job is facing serious questions about her past conduct.
As the race heats up to become the next Cabinet Secretary, the individual tipped for the prestigious role, Antonia Romeo, is now under scrutiny due to allegations of bullying behavior that surfaced during her tenure as a senior diplomat in New York about a decade ago. Documents obtained by the BBC suggest that the claims of her conduct may be more extensive than initially acknowledged by the Cabinet Office.
Dame Antonia Romeo, currently a high-ranking official at the Home Office, is recognized by many in Whitehall for her impressive ability to achieve results. However, these past accusations have led some to question her suitability for the position of Cabinet Secretary, a role that would place her at the very helm of the UK's civil service.
The government has stated that three specific allegations concerning her use of expenses and alleged mistreatment of staff during her time in New York were investigated and ultimately found to have "no case to answer." The Cabinet Office further clarified that these three claims stemmed from a single formal complaint. They also mentioned that while she was spoken to about her management style after this complaint was dismissed, no similar issues have arisen in her subsequent roles.
But here's where it gets controversial... Sources have informed the BBC that the reality of the situation in New York might be more complex. These sources indicate that multiple individuals lodged complaints about Dame Antonia's behavior, contrary to the official line that there was only one. While Sir Matthew Rycroft, who served as the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York during that period, and Rupert McNeil, the government's former head of HR, have both publicly stated there was only one complaint, a source told the BBC that "To argue publicly that there was just one complaint is willfully misleading. They were presented to London in one dossier, but there were multiple complaints."
And this is the part most people miss... The documents detailing these complaints paint a stark picture. Dame Antonia is described as having acted in ways that were "unreasonable," "degrading," and "demeaning" towards her staff. Furthermore, there are claims that she was more focused on enhancing her own "personal brand" on social media than on representing the interests of the UK government. One particularly striking piece of testimony from the time reads: "She's a diplomat, not a D-list celebrity. My 15-year-old, social media obsessed, brother is less shameless in his self-promotion."
One member of the UK's team in New York reportedly felt "emotionally battered" by the experience. During her time as the UK's Consul General from 2016 to 2017, a period immediately following the Brexit referendum, Dame Antonia's responsibilities included fostering UK trade and business in New York.
Alarmingly, an annual staff survey from that period revealed that 47% of staff in New York reported experiencing bullying in the workplace, a figure described as the highest ever recorded within the Foreign Office. For comparison, such figures in most government departments typically hover in the low single digits. This survey covered a 12-month span, which included three months of Dame Antonia's leadership.
Despite these criticisms, her professional capabilities are acknowledged by her detractors. The BBC has seen documents where individuals describe her as "smart, dynamic and really talented" and an "extremely intelligent, innovative thinker." However, her management style drew significant criticism, with one person describing her as "very demanding, very disrespectful, very threatening."
One individual recounted: "I'm used to big egos but this was something else. The minute she heard the word 'no' she'd say I'll go to your boss. But it was worse than that. She would go to your boss's boss and your boss's boss's boss." Another shared: "If you don't say 'yes' to her she's not only going to screw your career, but she'll screw all of those around you." Her approach, it was claimed, "inflames rather than calms a situation" and "creates a culture of fear and anxiety." It's also noted that the majority of the complaints seen by the BBC originated from female staff members.
The seriousness of these allegations prompted the dispatch of Sir Tim Hitchens, a former ambassador to Japan, to New York to conduct an inquiry. His investigation delved into claims of "bullying behaviour, financial probity, and putting her private objectives above those of the wider Consulate-General or government."
The Foreign Office's investigation, as reported, concluded that there was a case to answer regarding her behavior towards colleagues, but found no grounds for action concerning "financial probity" (related to expenses).
A Whitehall source has defended Dame Antonia, stating, "The fact that selective excerpts are now being resurfaced, almost a decade on, to substantiate vexatious anonymous briefings from disgruntled individuals is frankly unconscionable."
Concerns about Dame Antonia's social media usage were also raised in an email from the time, which stated: "Antonia's obsession with promoting her personal brand over the work and priorities of HMG has created an untenably tense and bullying atmosphere for all staff."
Staff also recounted instances where Dame Antonia reportedly insisted that articles featuring her from publications like Vogue and The New Yorker be framed and displayed prominently in the guest bathroom of the Residence, ensuring they were constantly visible. One former colleague expressed in an email: "I'm extremely alarmed that Antonia, who holds one of the highest diplomatic positions here in the United States, seems to be focusing an undue amount on building her personal Twitter brand."
Government sources, however, counter that these magazine features were arranged by the Foreign Office's communications team, and it is standard practice for diplomats overseas to promote the UK and British brands, including through social media.
Since her time in New York, Dame Antonia has held numerous senior positions and is currently one of three individuals serving as interim Cabinet Secretary, following the recent departure of Sir Chris Wormald.
A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office stated: "Antonia Romeo is an outstanding leader with 25 years of public service. She has been appointed to three different Permanent Secretary roles and has led hundreds of thousands of public servants to deliver for governments of all stripes. As we have repeatedly said, one formal complaint was raised nine years ago which was thoroughly investigated. The allegations were dismissed on the basis that there was no case to answer. It is entirely inappropriate to resurface dismissed HR proceedings almost a decade later."
What are your thoughts on these allegations? Do you believe past conduct should heavily influence an individual's suitability for a top leadership role, even after investigations have concluded? Share your perspective in the comments below!
