Crawford Falconer, the Department for Business and Trade’s second permanent secretary, is departing next month.
CSW understands the department will not be appointing a new second perm sec, with his responsibilities to be shared between several officials. In doing so, DIT will join the handful of departments who do not have a second perm sec, which includes the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education and Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Falconer became second perm sec and chief trade negotiation adviser at the Department for International Trade in 2017, the New Zealander’s first role in the UK civil service. He kept the position when the department was merged into the Department for Business and Trade in 2023. He was also briefly acting DIT perm sec, a role he said he didn't want.
Falconer was initially appointed on a five-year contract, which was twice extended by one year.
The decision to not renew the contract again has been criticised by Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary.
“It is staggering that at this crucial time following the US elections, the government has dispensed with the services of its chief trade negotiator, an independent civil servant with direct experience negotiating across the Atlantic,” Griffith told The Times.
“It is like retiring your opening batsman on the first day of a Test match," he added.
A DBT spokesperson said: “We would like to thank Crawford for his commitment in overseeing the UK’s trade policy and negotiations over many years.
“His work has ensured the UK has built up the necessary experience and expertise to succeed on the world stage as a newly independent trading nation. We look forward to delivering an ambitious trade agenda that boosts growth and gives British businesses access to some of the most exciting economies in the world.”
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