Sue Gray has resigned as the prime minister’s chief of staff, No 10 has announced.
In a statement, Keir Starmer thanked the former civil servant 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”.
Gray has been appointed as the prime minister’s new envoy for regions and nations.
It comes after months of hostile briefing against Gray from within No 10 and the wider Labour Party, featuring suggestions she wielded too much power. Her salary, which was £3,000 more than that of the prime minister, was leaked to the BBC.
Former Labour general election campaign director Morgan McSweeney will replace Sue Gray as the prime minister’s chief of staff.
Alongside McSweeney, Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson have been promoted to deputy chiefs of staff.
Nin Pandit has been made Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the prime minister, and the final appointment is James Lyons, who will head up a new No 10 strategic communications team.
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Announcing her new role, 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.”
Week-in-Review: Why Labour is malfunctioning
Reacting to Gray’s resignation, a Conservative Party spokesperson described Downing Street as being in “chaos”.
They said: “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.
“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?”
Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister and one of four Conservative leadership hopefuls, said Gray’s resignation suggests the government is in “free fall”.
“Fewer than 100 days in and this Labour government is in complete disarray”, he said. “Starmer is without a national security advisor, 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.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on X/Twitter here.
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