Sir Philip Barton to Depart as Foreign Office’s Top Civil Servant

The BBC has learned that Sir Philip Barton, who holds the position of the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, is scheduled to resign in January. Sir Philip assumed the role of permanent secretary within the department in 2020, but his tenure will conclude before he completes the full five-year term that his two predecessors served. In 2022, Members of Parliament heavily criticized him concerning his management of the disorderly evacuation of UK personnel following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Foreign Secretary David Lammy reportedly commended Sir Philip for his integrity and his calming influence. However, subsequent to the change in government, the two “agreed that it is time to begin the process to appoint a successor”. The BBC has learned that Sir Philip communicated his decision via an email sent to all staff members of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Monday. During his four-year tenure as the head of the Diplomatic Service, Sir Philip worked under five different foreign secretaries: Dominic Raab, Liz Truss, James Cleverly, Lord Cameron, and Lammy. His prior public service positions include serving as the Foreign Office’s director general for consular and security affairs, and as the acting chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee within the Cabinet Office. Additionally, he previously served as the high commissioner to Islamabad, the deputy head of mission in Washington, and the director of foreign policy and coordinator for Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2022, while the evacuation of Kabul was underway, Sir Philip went on a 17-day holiday, a decision he later expressed regret for to the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee. Sir Philip asserted that the rapid fall of Kabul was not apparent at the time he commenced his leave; however, his absence was perceived as a lapse in leadership, and he faced criticism for diminishing the FCDO’s operational response. His impending departure adds another significant civil service position for the government to fill, alongside roles such as the cabinet secretary, national security adviser, and the UK ambassador in Washington. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.