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Badenoch urges delay in cabinet secretary’s dismissal until Mandelson documents are released

Sir Chris Wormald, the head of the Civil Service, is reportedly in discussions regarding a potential departure arrangement from his position.

A letter has been sent by Kemi Badenoch to the regulator of civil service appointments, requesting that they prevent Sir Keir Starmer from removing the cabinet secretary until the release of documents related to Lord Mandelson's appointment.

Sir Chris Wormald
Sir Chris Wormald was appointed as cabinet secretary just over a year ago

Negotiations for an exit package are reportedly underway for Sir Chris Wormald, the head of the Civil Service, who was appointed by the PM in December 2024 and is now expected to leave his position.

Dame Antonia Romeo, the top civil servant at the Home Office, has emerged as the government's preferred candidate to succeed Sir Chris Wormald, having been part of the four-person shortlist when he was initially appointed.

In correspondence with the First Civil Service Commissioner, Kemi Badenoch advocated for a new selection process to choose Sir Chris Wormald's replacement, emphasizing the need for a thorough approach.

Badenoch criticized the treatment of Sir Chris Wormald, suggesting that he is the latest casualty of the prime minister's actions, implying a pattern of behavior.

The removal of the cabinet secretary, who is overseeing the release of documents related to Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, should be postponed until the process is complete, according to Badenoch.

The First Civil Service Commissioner, responsible for overseeing civil service appointments, is currently held by Baroness Stuart, a former Labour MP and Brexit campaigner, Gisela Stuart.

Kemi Badenoch's letter also referenced an interview with Lord McDonald, the former head of the Foreign Office, which aired on Channel 4 News on Wednesday evening.

During the interview, Lord McDonald expressed concerns about the potential appointment of Dame Antonia Romeo, stating that the due diligence process was not yet complete.

The comments made by Lord McDonald have been linked to an investigation into Dame Antonia Romeo's spending in 2017, when she served as the government's consul-general in New York, and he was her superior.

A government source responded to Lord McDonald's comments, stating that there was no basis for criticism and highlighting Dame Antonia Romeo's 25-year record of public service.

The source emphasized that Dame Antonia Romeo is a highly respected permanent secretary, and the allegations against her stem from a single grievance made by a former employee, which was dismissed due to lack of evidence.

The allegations were thoroughly investigated, and all claims were dismissed, according to the government source, who defended Dame Antonia Romeo's reputation.

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to strengthen the vetting process for senior roles, following controversy surrounding the appointments of Lord Mandelson and Lord Doyle, due to their connections to convicted individuals.

If appointed, Dame Antonia Romeo would become the first female head of the Civil Service, marking a significant milestone.

Dame Antonia Romeo speaks into a microphone in front of a Union Jack flag.
Dame Antonia Romeo has held senior roles at the Department for International Trade, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office

Critics, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, have argued that a "boys' club" culture exists within the government and have called for greater representation of women in senior positions.

Sir Chris Wormald's tenure as cabinet secretary is likely to be the shortest in the history of the post, having been appointed just over a year ago.

Upon his appointment, the PM tasked Sir Chris Wormald with leading a comprehensive overhaul of the British state to drive long-term reform and ambitious change.

However, questions were raised about Sir Chris Wormald's suitability for the role, given his background as a career civil servant, and rumors about his performance have circulated for months.

As the cabinet secretary, Sir Chris Wormald was ultimately responsible for overseeing the due diligence process, including the checks conducted before Lord Mandelson's appointment, although he took office only days before the formal announcement.

Sir Chris Wormald's departure would follow the recent exits of other senior officials, including Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and director of communications Tim Allan, as the PM seeks to reorganize his team in response to the Mandelson scandal.

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Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards
James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026
Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.

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