In July 2022 McDonald wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards stating that denials of previous allegations against Chris Pincher by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson were untrue.[1] The letter was described as an "extraordinary,devastating intervention",and was followed by resignations of senior cabinet ministers,ultimately leading to Johnson's announcement of his resignation on 7 July 2022.[2]
In September 2015,McDonald became Permanent Under-Secretary in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service,replacing Sir Simon Fraser.[9][10][11] As of 2015,McDonald was paid a salary between £180,000 and £184,999 by the Foreign Office.[12]
Speaking in 2021,after leaving the FCDO,McDonald recalled telling his private secretary on the morning of the referendum in 2016,"I really fear today our country is going to vote to leave the European Union".[13] He also revealed his office to be in "mourning" after the vote but stressed the importance of abiding by civil service impartiality in implementing the referendum result. [14]
In April 2020,McDonald stated to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that it was a political decision to opt out of an EU scheme to bulk-buy ventilators and protective equipment for NHS workers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The comments raised concerns that ministers had put Brexit ahead of responding to the public health crisis.[15] Following comments,Matt Hancock used Downing Street's daily press briefing to state that as far as he knew,there had been no political decision not to participate.[16] McDonald subsequently wrote to the committee chairman,Tom Tugendhat MP,stating that he had "inadvertently and wrongly" misinformed the committee "due to a misunderstanding".[16]
In April 2023 McDonald said he had to warn Dominic Raab “more than once”about his conduct as foreign secretary. McDonald said Raab was a “tough taskmaster”whose “methods did not help him to achieve what he wanted to do”. McDonald claimed Raab did not listen to the issues raised with him,adding:“He disputed it. He disputed the characterisation.”[20]
Lord McDonald,in 2025 warned Rachel Reeves not to cut Britain’s international aid spending. Lord McDonald said it would damage Britain’s global reputation if Reeves chose to reduce aid as she looks for savings the spending review.[25]
In 1989 Simon McDonald married Olivia,daughter of Sir Patrick Wright,later Baron Wright of Richmond,who had also been Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCO (1986–1991). Simon and Olivia have two sons and two daughters.[7]
↑ Fraser, Simon (29 July 2015). "Simon Fraser on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 31 July 2015. Many congrats to @SMcDonaldFCO on his appointment as my successor @foreignoffice. Great choice.
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