Theresa May’s security chief retires early after rumours surface he had patronised the PM by ‘mansplaining’
Sir Mark Lyall Grant is steps down from key role after only 18 months
THERESA May’s National Security Advisor is retiring early after being accused of “mansplaining” to her.
Lifelong diplomat Sir Mark Lyall Grant is stepping down from the key role after just 18 months.
He will be replaced by the PM’s close ally Mark Sedwill, who is the Home Office’s civil service boss.
Old Etonian Sir Mark is the latest in a series of high profile departures under Mrs May, from her EU ambassador Sir Ivan Rogers to her chief spokesman Helen Bower.
Sir Mark is rumoured across Whitehall to have fallen foul of Mrs May by talking over her and being patronising during intelligence sessions.
It was announced yesterday he was leaving the civil service aged just 60, when his predecessor in the job Sir Kim Darroch was promoted to be US Ambassador at the same age.
No10 insisted Sir Mark’s decision to retire was his own.
Thanking him, the PM said: “Mark has made a huge contribution and I wish him every success for the future”.
