Sir Jeremy Heywood steps down

26 October 2018

Hertford is saddened to share the news that Sir Jeremy Heywood is stepping down from his role as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.

Sir Jeremy read Modern History & Economics in Hertford, matriculating in 1980. He also studied at the London School of  Economics and Hertford Business School, before embarking on a successful career with the Civil Service. Amongst his roles he was Principal Private Secretary to Chancellor Norman Lamont at the age of 30, and was later Principal Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary in 2012 and Head of the Home Civil service in 2014. The New Statesman described Sir Jeremy yesterday as not just one of the most powerful figures in Whitehall, but ‘also one of the nicest’.

Principal Will Hutton said:

‘Everyone at Hertford would like to wish Sir Jeremy Heywood the very best in his struggle with cancer, which has triggered his decision to step down as Cabinet Secretary, as announced on Thursday. He served four Prime Ministers with distinction, each of whom regarded him as indispensable. He has had a key role in marshaling the best of the Civil Service in navigating Britain through a succession of epic crises – of which the two most notable were the financial crash and now the tortured and fraught Brexit negotiations . A wonderful enthusiast, he is a great friend of the college carving out time to give the occasional seminar or attend a gaudy – always encouraging our students to apply to be civil servants, consecrating their lives to public service which he considers the highest calling. Everyone here ardently hopes for his full recovery – and to see him around college again.’