Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service amid a bitter row over allegations about her behaviour in previous roles.

Dame Antonia, currently the permanent secretary of the Home Office, becomes the first woman to hold the role of Cabinet Secretary in its 110-year history.

She has previously faced accusations of bullying related to her time as consul-general in New York in 2017, but was cleared by the Cabinet Office.

It said one formal complaint was ‘thoroughly investigated’ at the time and the allegations were dismissed ‘on the basis there was no case to answer’. 

Fresh details of the complaints previously levelled at Dame Antonia Romeo reveal that colleagues accused her of caring more about her personal profile than her work.

And she was subject to a major outburst by former top diplomat Lord McDonald of Salford, who publicly warning No10 against the move.

But her allies have insisted that her critics are driven by ‘misogyny’ and opposition to her working methods.

She replaces Sir Chris Wormald, who was forced out of the role amid the controversy about Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States.

Sir Keir said: ‘She is an outstanding public servant, with a 25‑year record of delivering for the British people. 

‘Since becoming Prime Minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and determination to get things done.’

Dame Antonia, currently the permanent secretary of the Home Office , becomes the first woman to hold the role of Cabinet Secretary. 

Sir Keir said: ‘Since becoming Prime Minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and determination to get things done’

She replaces Sir Chris Wormald, who was forced out of the role amid the controversy about Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States 

Dame Antonia added: ‘The Civil Service is a great and remarkable institution, which I love. 

‘We should be known for delivery, efficiency and innovation, working to implement the Government’s agenda and meet the challenges the country faces. 

‘I look forward to working with all colleagues across the Civil Service to do this, in support of the Prime Minister and the Government.’

The announcement came on Thursday morning at the same time as it was revealed police were visiting the Sandringham home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, amid a probe into his friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 

The Cabinet Office said her appointment was subject to ‘an enhanced due diligence process’. 

Last night it was revealed she repaid travel expenses after commuting from London to New York at taxpayers’ expense.

She flew at taxpayers’ expense between New York, where she was living while HM consul-general, and London after getting a new civil service job in 2017. 

Dame Antonia later repaid the costs, believed to run into tens of thousands of pounds, after officials raised concerns regarding the bills.

Dame Antonia also used her official residence in the US to host glitzy parties for the likes of former Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour, who posted photos of herself with stars, including actress Dame Joanna Lumley. 

A Government spokesman confirmed: ‘For a short transition period in 2017, while she was acting as both consul-general in New York and permanent secretary for the Department for International Trade in London, Antonia incurred travel, accommodation and other costs, under an agreed arrangement.

‘She suggested paying some of these back and did so. This was entirely within standard process and agreed at the time.’

However, her allies hit back today, saying claims of bullying while in New York were driven by jealousy from people overlooked for the job.

One told the Times: ‘There was a lot of internal jealousy at the Foreign Office over that appointment.

‘It was typically Foreign Office elitism — people thought it wasn’t fair for her to get such a prominent role given she wasn’t a career diplomat.’ 

Another said: ‘It’s just a load of old Foreign Office bods briefing against a high-flying successful woman who has done things differently to the typical civil servant.’