Turnbull: Stepping down

The prime minister is poised to appoint a successor to Sir Andrew Turnbull, the most senior civil servant in the country.

The appointment should be made within the next fortnight, with several top mandarins in contention for the post.

With Tony Blair expected to decide who will succeed Sir Andrew, Jonathan Baume, the general secretary of the senior civil service union the FDA, has called on the new Cabinet secretary to prove visible leadership and to restore confidence and morale across Whitehall.

Sir Andrew has been head of the home civil service since autumn 2002 and is to retire from the £220,000 a year post this September.

Gus O'Donnell, the Treasury's permanent secretary, is seen as the frontrunner to succeed him.

O'Donnell, 52, has been at the Treasury since 2002 and has enjoyed good relations with Gordon Brown and political advisers such as Ed Balls, the chancellor's former chief economic adviser.

With Brown widely expected to succeed Blair as prime minister sometime during this parliament, O'Donnell's strong relationship with the chancellor would help smooth the transition.

A veteran of the civil service, O'Donnell also served as John Major's press secretary and in the British Embassy in Washington.

However, other senior civil servants are also jockeying to succeed Turnbull.

Sir Nigel Crisp, the National Health Service chief executive and permanent secretary of the Department of Health is seen as a contender.

Sir Nigel's career includes spells as a hospital chief executive and a stint in the charity sector.

He was regional director for the health service in London before becoming the first person to combine the top roles in the Department of Health and the NHS when he was appointed in 2000.

Sir David Normington, permanent secretary of the Department for Education and Skills, and Sir John Gieve, permanent secretary of the Home Office are also viewed as potential candidates for the post.