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Simon Case has confirmed his departure as cabinet secretary and head of the UK civil service as he receives treatment for a serious medical condition.
Case said in a letter to colleagues that he had informed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of his intention to step down by the end of the year.
He said he had been undergoing medical treatment for a neurological condition over the past 18 months: “Whilst the spirit remains willing, the body is not,” he wrote.
His departure has been long expected. Likely successors include Sir Olly Robbins and Dame Melanie Dawes.
Case said his decision was solely related to his health and not to anything else: “It is a shame that I feel I have to spell this out.”
The mandarin said it had been an honour to serve two sovereigns, four prime ministers and more than 120 cabinet ministers in his role. “There have been far more ups than downs along the way,” he said.
A job advert has been posted on the civil service website. The salary advertised is £200,000 and the successful candidate will be in charge of 500,000 civil servants.
This is a developing story
