Sir Philip Barton is to step down as the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office in January 2024, having faced severe criticism for his handling of the 2021 Kabul evacuation.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged Barton’s integrity and reassuring presence but recognized the need to initiate the process for appointing a successor post-transition to a new government.
His tenure since 2020 has included service under five foreign secretaries, yet he leaves without completing a full five-year term due to controversies surrounding his leadership.
Barton’s controversial decision to take a 17-day holiday during the Kabul evacuation led to significant criticism, as many viewed it as a failure of leadership during a critical time.
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