Liz Truss appoints 'insider' James Bowler as top Treasury official

Liz Truss appoints ‘insider’ James Bowler as top Treasury official after veering away from plans to pick ‘outsider’ to challenge department’s ‘orthodoxy’ following financial markets meltdown in wake of mini-Budget

James Bowler appointed as Treasury’s top new official by PM and Chancellor
It follows the sacking of previous permanent secretary Sir Tom Scholar
Liz Truss was previously expected to want an ‘outsider’ to lead the department
But she has now appointed an ‘insider’ after mini-Budget and markets meltdown

Liz Truss today appointed an ‘insider’ as the Treasury’s new top official after junking plans to appoint an ‘outsider’ to the role to challenge the department’s ‘orthodoxy’.

James Bowler, who was the top civil servant at the Department for International Trade, has been appointed as the Treasury’s new permanent secretary.

The role was vacant after Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng sacked former Treasury permanent secretary Sir Tom Scholar last month.

James Bowler has been appointed as the Treasury’s new permanent secretary

Sir Tom’s departure was one of the first acts of Ms Truss’s incoming Government.

It was seen as a signal of the new PM’s determination to change the direction of economic policy as she entered Downing Street.

But Ms Truss has since seen her agenda blown off course after she was forced into a U-turn on her plans to scrap the 45p tax rate.

A Tory revolt over the issue followed a meltdown on financial markets in the wake of Mr Kwarteng’s mini-Budget last month, in which he revealed £45billion worth of tax cuts.

It was widely expected that Ms Truss would appoint an ‘outsider’ to take charge of the Treasury following Sir Tom’s sacking.

Antonio Romeo, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, had been tipped to get the role after forging a relationship with Ms Truss during their time together at the Department for International Trade.

The appointment of Mr Bowler will now be viewed as part of Ms Truss’s attempts to shore up her position among Tory MPs – as well as steady financial markets – after her and Mr Kwarteng’s bruising mini-Budget fiasco.

Liz Truss is reported to have overruled Kwasi Kwarteng’s tentative appointment of Antonio Romeo as the Treasury’s new top official after the PM changed her mind this weekend

The role was vacant after the Chancellor sacked former Treasury permanent secretary Sir Tom Scholar last month

Mr Bowler, pictured at a select committee hearing in 2014 alongside then Chancellor George Osborne, has previously spent more than 20 years of his civil service career in the Treasury

Number 10 rejected a report that Ms Truss had overruled Mr Kwarteng’s intention to appoint Ms Romeo as the Treasury’s new top official after the PM changed her mind this weekend.

A source said: ‘It was a joint decision between the PM and Chancellor.

‘The PM rates Antonia very highly but it was felt Bowler is the best person for the job given his Treasury background.’

Ms Truss was initially thought to have favoured Ms Romeo’s appointment as someone who could challenge the ‘Treasury orthodoxy’ she repeatedly criticised during her Tory leadership campaign this summer.

Ms Romeo has never worked in the Treasury whereas Mr Bowler has previously spent more than 20 years of his civil service career in the department.

He served as a Principal Private Secretary both to David Cameron and Gordon Brown as Prime Minister and to Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown as Chancellor.

The Cabinet Office said Mr Bowler’s appointment had been made ‘with the approval’ of the PM and ‘in agreement’ with the Chancellor.

Mr Kwarteng said: ‘James has a proven track record of delivery and strong leadership, both of which will be vital as we drive towards our mission of igniting growth and raising living standards for everyone across the UK.’

Mr Bowler said:’I am delighted to be returning to HM Treasury. Having spent over 20 years at the Department, I know first-hand the excellence of its people.

‘I plan to bring my wider experience back to the Department to help navigate the opportunities and challenges of the global economy that lie ahead.’

Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis said he was ‘delighted’ that Ms Romeo was staying at his department.

‘It has been great to work with her and the whole team at the department so far and I look forward to continuing to work together to deliver better outcomes for victims and ensure swift, effective access to justice for all,’ he posted on Twitter.

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