most senior

The commission must approve exception appointments at the most senior grade, but below this level departments have a free hand to recruit.

The most senior Hamas leader outside Gaza and other key figures in its negotiating team are no longer in Doha, Qatar’s government and a senior Palestinian official have said.

The Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, the country’s most senior civil servant, had told all ministers they should “not take part in the public debate.”

His nomination for secretary of state - America’s most senior diplomat - Marco Rubio, has described China as the “most advanced adversary America has ever faced”.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the UK's most senior civil servant, told ministers last month they should "exercise discretion and should not take part in the public debate".