Sue Gray resigns as Downing Street chief of staff, No 10 confirms
Sue Gray was appointed to help ease Labour into government but quickly became the story herself, as Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana explains
Sue Gray has resigned from her position as Downing Street chief of staff and will take on a new government role, Number 10 has confirmed.
The former Partygate investigator's resignation follows mounting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer from special government advisers amid a row over pay and alleged blocking and delaying government appointments.
Many special advisers – political staff who support ministers – were also growing frustrated over what they saw as Ms Gray being overly controlling of what information the prime minister can see.
Last week ITV News reported that most special advisers were holding out on signing their contracts in a dispute over pay cuts.
Ms Gray said she was standing down because it had “become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change”.
In a written statement, Sir Keir said: “I want to thank Sue for all the support she has given me, both in opposition and government, and her work to prepare us for government and get us started on our programme of change.“Sue has played a vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions and nations. I am delighted that she will continue to support that work.”
In the same written statement, Ms Gray said: “I am pleased to have accepted a new role as the Prime Minister’s envoy for the regions and nations.“After leading the Labour party’s preparation for government and kickstarting work on our programme for change, I am looking forward to drawing on my experience to support the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to help deliver the government’s objectives across the nations and regions of the UK.
"In addition to building a close partnership with devolved governments, I am delighted this new role will mean continuing to work alongside and support the prime minister, deputy prime minister, the Cabinet and the mayors on English devolution.
“It has been an honour to take on the role of chief of staff, and to play my part in the delivery of a Labour government. Throughout my career my first interest has always been public service.
"However in recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change.
"It is for that reason I have chosen to stand aside, and I look forward to continuing to support the prime minister in my new role.”
The prime minister's chief adviser and former Labour general election campaign director, Morgan McSweeney, will replace Ms Gray as chief of staff.
The Conservative Party said that Ms Gray's departure was evidence of Downing Street being in "chaos".
“In fewer than 100 days Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government has been thrown into chaos – he has lost his chief of staff who has been at the centre of the scandal the Labour Party has been engulfed by," a spokesperson said. “Sue Gray was brought into deliver a programme for government and all we’ve seen in that time is a government of self-service. The only question that remains is: who will run the country now?”
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Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said Ms Gray's resignation was the result of "vicious Labour infighting". He added: "Fewer than 100 days in and this Labour government is in complete disarray.“(Sir Keir) Starmer is without a national security adviser, private secretary and the most senior civil servant has sped up his exit.“Now, his handpicked chief of staff has been forced out by vicious Labour infighting. This government is in free fall.”
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