In the hushed corridors of Whitehall, a revolution is brewing. Antonia Romeo, the glamorous and sharp-elbowed Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, is poised to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling and become Britain’s first female Cabinet Secretary.

Her ascent comes as the current Cabinet Secretary, Chris Wormald, is reportedly being forced out after a tenure that was as brief as it was uninspiring. Wormald, the embodiment of the classic "Sir Humphrey" archetype, was a safe, traditional choice. His departure signals that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is looking for something different—energy, visibility, and perhaps a touch of steel. Romeo offers all three in abundance.

A Disruptor in the Civil Service

Antonia Romeo is not your typical grey-suited mandarin. She is a figure of distinct style and ambition, known for her ability to network and her willingness to step into the spotlight. Her supporters describe her as an outstanding candidate, "full of ideas" and unafraid to shake up the lethargic machinery of state. She has impressed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and has a track record of survival, having held top posts under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and now Starmer.

However, her potential appointment is already ruffling feathers. To her detractors in the right-wing press and traditionalist corners of the service, she is the "Queen of Woke." This moniker stems from her tenure as the Civil Service's gender champion and her public blogging about menopause and inclusivity. For the old guard, her slick social media presence—including posts about the Ministry of Justice Christmas tree during a court backlog crisis—smacks of self-promotion rather than public service.

• The Survivor: Romeo's career is a masterclass in adaptability. She navigated the Brexit chaos at the Department for International Trade and managed the volatile Justice brief before landing the Home Office.
• The Risk Factor: Senior insiders warn she is "not a risk-free choice." Her forthright style and "outward-facing" persona alienate traditionalists who believe civil servants should be seen and not heard.
• The Shake-Up: Her appointment would be the headline act in a wider clearing of the decks at Number 10, following the exits of other senior aides. It suggests Starmer wants a civil service that is less about process and more about delivery.

A New Era or a Culture War?

If appointed, Romeo will inherit a civil service that is demoralised and under fire. Her challenge will be to prove that her "progressive" credentials are not just performative but are backed by the competence to run a complex government machine. Whether she is the "Queen of Woke" or a moderniser dragging Whitehall into the 21st century, one thing is certain: Antonia Romeo does not do things quietly.