Top civil servant and MI6 boss quit all-male club

The head of the civil service and the UK's MI6 spy chief have quit the Garrick Club after a backlash for being part of a club that excludes women.

On Tuesday, Mr Case told MPs he joined the club to reform it "from within".

A spokesperson for Mr Case said: "The cabinet secretary has resigned his membership of the Garrick Club."

The Garrick has been contacted for comment.

During a parliamentary select committee session, former Labour minister Liam Byrne asked Mr Case how he could "foster a genuine culture of inclusiveness" in the civil service as a Garrick member.

Mr Case replied: "I have to say today my position on this one is clear, which is that if you believe profoundly in reform of an institution, by and large it's easier to do if you join it to make the change from within rather than chuck rocks from the outside."

As Cabinet Secretary, Mr Case works closely with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, leading and managing the UK's civil service.

He stepped back from his duties in October because of a medical matter, before returning to work in January.

Before being appointed Cabinet Secretary by former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2020, Mr Case served as private secretary to King Charles, the then-Prince of Wales.

King Charles is the most famous member of the Garrick club, an exclusive all-male private members institution based in London's West End.

The Guardian revealed a list of judges, lawyers, cabinet minister, peers and MPs, plus academics, actors, rock stars and senior journalists who are members of the Garrick.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, were both revealed as members - alongside former cabinet ministers including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Kwasi Kwarteng and Robert Buckland.

BBC broadcasters John Simpson and Melvyn Bragg are also members, according to the reports.

The Garrick was founded in 1831, named after famous eighteenth century actor David Garrick.

In recent years the club has been under pressure to change its rules to allow female members. This year, members will have a chance to vote again on allowing women amid accusations of elitism and misogyny.