Truss overrules chancellor on Treasury permanent secretary choice - reports

Antonia Romeo no longer first choice

Prime Minister Liz Truss has vetoed the government’s plans to appoint Antonia Romeo as Treasury permanent secretary.

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced Romeo, who is currently permanent secretary at the justice department, would fill the position last week. However, the FT has reported that government insiders have revealed Truss has overruled Kwarteng on the appointment. The new permanent secretary was instead announced as James Bowler, who was previously permanent secretary to the Department for International Trade. Bowler was also previously permanent secretary to the Cabinet Office. Romeo, who is seen as an "outsider", was the only candidate interviewed for the role who has not spent a large pa...