Reform UK would break up the role of Cabinet Secretary if Nigel Farage wins the next general election. The insurgent party announced that it would split the UK’s most senior Civil Service post into three positions, which would be the Cabinet Secretary, the head of the Civil Service and the Prime Minister’s chief adviser.

The PM’s chief adviser would be a political appointee and become the most senior person in No 10 after the Prime Minister. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service.

Reform MP Danny Kruger, who is leading the party’s Preparing for Government Unit, said: “As Keir Starmer appoints his third Cabinet Secretary in 18 months – from a pool of senior civil servants who have presided over broken Britain – Reform UK is announcing it will break up this role and restore meaningful political accountability at the top of government.

“The Cabinet Secretary currently does three distinct jobs: operational management of the Cabinet and Cabinet committees, leadership of the 500,000-strong Civil Service, and chief adviser to the Prime Minister.

“This is far too much executive responsibility for a single civil servant, and helps explain the chronic bureaucracy and misgovernment of Britain.

“Under a Reform government, these three roles will be fulfilled by three different people.

“The Cabinet Secretary will be literally that – the person responsible for the process of Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings, managing agendas, the flow of papers, and the communication of ministerial decisions across Whitehall.

“The leadership of the Civil Service will be held by an experienced leader and expert in transformation, probably recruited from outside the Civil Service. He or she will be responsible for implementing Reform’s plans for a radically reduced headcount, improved productivity, and strict ministerial accountability in Whitehall.

“The role of the Prime Minister’s chief adviser will be held by a political appointee, not a career civil servant. He or she – not the Cabinet Secretary – will be the senior person in No 10 after the PM.

“Separating these roles and putting the right people into them is a vital precondition for restoring good government to Britain.”

Dame Antonia succeeds Sir Chris Wormald, who was forced out last week after just 14 months in the job as the Prime Minister battles to remain in power.

Her expected appointment had raised eyebrows after allegations that she had been previously spoken to about her management style.