Sue Gray: Update provided on Partygate investigator's Labour role

An update is expected to shed light on how and when Partygate investigator Sue Gray began job talks with the Labour Party. Credit: PA

An update on Labour's bid to hire Sue Gray, the former civil servant known for her Partygate investigation into Boris Johnson, as chief of staff has been published after hours of waiting.

A statement from Cabinet Office Secretary Oliver Dowden, which had been expected to shed light on how and when Ms Gray began considering a job with Labour, was lacking any of the expected detail.

Other than revealing Ms Gray had declined to make representations into the inquiry looking into her discussions with Labour, the minister said he was "unable at this stage to provide further information" relating to the departure from the civil service.

He explained that the Cabinet Office had made a "confidential assessment" to the anti-corruption watchdog and will not provide further information on Ms Gray's departure "whilst we consider next steps".

Labour earlier accused the Tories of seeking to distract from the cost-of-living crisis by planning to publish the update.

In a written statement to the House of Commons, Mr Dowden wrote: "The Cabinet Office had been asked to look into the circumstances leading to the resignation of Sue Gray, the former Permanent Secretary for the Union and the Constitution and committed to update Parliament as appropriate.

"This process has involved interviewing relevant persons to establish further details on the contact between Ms Gray and the Leader of the Opposition.

"I can update the House that Ms Gray was given the opportunity to make representations as part of this process but chose not to do so."

Conservatives loyal to Mr Johnson have accused Ms Gray of a conflict of interest over her probe into Covid rule-breaking on Downing Street, suggesting she was in job talks with Labour while still conducting the investigation.

Sir Keir Starmer says he is "confident" Ms Gray did not break the rules, but a row which has been bubbling under the surface for months could boil over if the government eventually finds otherwise.

Allies of former PM Mr Johnson had been be hoping the statement on Tuesday afternoon would reveal details about how and when Ms Gray began to consider switching her high-ranking Whitehall position for a role within Labour.

Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told ITV News that Tory anger over Ms Gray's appointment is a "cynical attempt from the government to try and distract" from the cost of living crisis.

He said all his party has done is "recruit the best people" to help Labour win a general election but accepted the proper process for hiring senior civil servants must be followed.

Several reports have suggested Ms Gray could be found to have breached the Civil Service Code over the move, a finding which could impact her job swap.

As well as a Cabinet Office probe, the anti-corruption watchdog, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), is reviewing the terms of Ms Gray's departure and new job offer.

The Civil Service Code stipulates that officials of Ms Gray's seniority must wait a minimum of three months before taking up outside employment but Acoba could recommend a wait of up to two years.

Acoba does not have the power to block an appointment, however.

Labour has pledged to abide by any Acoba recommendation in relation to the hiring of Ms Gray.


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The Daily Telegraph reported the update would suggest Ms Gray held talks with Sir Keir while she was advising the cross-party of MPs on the Privileges Committee about their own inquiry into whether former prime minister Mr Johnson misled the Commons by insisting Covid rules were always followed in government.

Ms Gray found evidence in her investigation which pushed the Metropolitan Police to start its own probe, which eventually saw Mr Johnson, Rishi Sunak and dozens of others fined.

Many of Mr Johnson's former Cabinet ministers sought to discredit Ms Gray's Partygate report after learning of her plans to join Labour, with Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries branding it a "left-wing stitch up".

But Labour leader Sir Keir said he "had no discussions with her while she was investigating Boris Johnson whatsoever, I don't think anyone is suggesting that's the case".

He told BBC Breakfast: "I'm confident she hasn't broken any of the rules.

"Whenever a senior civil servant leaves the Civil Service there is always a process that they have to go through, that is the process she is going through, quite rightly.

"The government is trying to resurrect a story about Sue Gray, maybe because they don't want to talk about the cost-of-living crisis, which actually is the thing that most people are most concerned about."

In his written statement, Mr Dowden highlighted sections of the Civil Service Code relating to the political activity of civil servants.

He said: "Section 4.4.9 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out that all members of the Senior Civil Service are in the 'politically restricted' category, which places further restrictions on their political activity.

"In addition, there is a requirement under the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, which underpins the Civil Service Code, that 'contacts between senior civil servants and leading members of the Opposition parties...should...be cleared with...Ministers.'

"The impartiality and perceived impartiality of the Civil Service is constitutionally vital to the conduct of government."