The Permanent Secretary at the United Kingdom Treasury, Sir Tom Scholar (pictured) has been reappointed for another five-year term.
Sir Tom has been one of the architects of the Treasury’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
His reappointment comes after his Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and head if the Public Service, Simon Case collectively decided he should be given a vote of confidence to continue in his role.
Whitehall Permanent Secretaries have been appointed to five-year terms since 2014.
A Treasury source said Sir Tom and the Chancellor had a good working relationship “but more importantly this is about delivering the right results and having the right team in place for the next phase of the crisis”.
Sir Tom joined the Treasury in 1992 and played a part in writing up then Chancellor, Gordon Brown’s five tests for the UK adopting the euro.
He also served as Mr Brown’s Chief of Staff when he became Prime Minister, before going back to the Treasury during the 2008 financial crisis.
Sir Tom’s reappointment is thought to signal the end of the Government’s battle against the Public Service which was led by Mr Johnson’s former aide, Dominic Cummings.
Five Permanent Secretaries were forced out in a six-month period last year, including former senior Public Servant at the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam.
Sir Philip accused his Minister, Priti Patel of orchestrating a sustained campaign of leaking and bullying to oust him — a claim she denies.
He has filed an unfair dismissal claim.
London, 9 January 2021
