Five PMs pay tribute to ‘the greatest public servant’ Lord Heywood

Five prime ministers paid tribute to Lord Heywood of Whitehall who was being remembered today as “the greatest public servant of our time”.

There were around 2,000 people who packed a Westminster Abbey memorial service.

Theresa May led tributes to the ex-Cabinet secretary, who died last autumn at the age of 56.

“The legend of Britain’s Civil Service should no longer be the fictional story of Sir Humphrey but rather the true story of Sir Jeremy, the greatest public servant of our time,” she said.

Lord Heywood, who died from cancer only two weeks after leaving Government, was Cabinet secretary from 2012-2018.

He was at the heart of Government for the 1992 Black Wednesday financial crisis, the 2003 Iraq war, the financial crisis of 2008, the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government and Brexit.

David Cameron was expected to tell of Lord Heywood’s “deep, moral sense of right and wrong”, before adding: “His was a confidence born of genuine ability, talent and brain.”

Tony Blair said: “He was calm in crisis ... his fellow staff adored him ... I depended on him and when he was gone I felt his absence like an ache.”

Sir John Major said: “Jeremy was a dedicated public servant who ...served with professionalism, dignity and grace.”

Gordon Brown said: “I know of no public servant who ... achieved more in such a short time.”

His Cabinet secretary predecessor Lord O’Donnell added: “He typifies everything that is best about the Civil Service.”