Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff, Sue Gray Resigns

Sue Gray has quit her role as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, saying she “risked becoming a distraction”.

According to BBC, she had been caught up in rows over pay, after the BBC’s political editor revealed her salary was higher than Sir Keir’s, and donations from Lord Waheed Alli.

A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed Ms Gray, who became a household name as the Partygate investigator, was taking up a new role as the prime minister’s envoy for nations and regions.

Labour said Ms Gray will be replaced by Morgan McSweeney, who was previously chief adviser to the prime minister and masterminded Labour’s election campaign.

Resigning, Ms Gray said it had been an honour to “play my part in the delivery of a Labour government” as Sir Keir’s chief of staff, both in opposition and in No 10.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Thanking Ms Gray for her work, Sir Keir said he was “delighted” she would stay by his side in her new role, and added the shake-up showed his “determination to deliver”.

Ms Gray had been subject to intense internal briefings and criticism in a government yet to reach its first 100 days in office, and it is that level of dysfunction that has made it clear to Sir Keir that something needed to shift.