PA averageSue Gray has resigned as chief of staff to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, saying she “ran the risk of becoming a distraction”.
BBC political editor reveals she’s embroiled in row over pay Her salary is higher than Sir Keir’sand a donation from Lord Ali.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed Ms Gray would serve as the Prime Minister’s national and regional envoy.
Labor said Ms Gray would be replaced by Morgan McSweeney, who served as the prime minister’s chief adviser and masterminded Labour’s election campaign.
Ms Gray has been subject to intense internal briefings and criticism, with Whitehall sources saying she was overly controlling and causing delays in government decision-making.
After resigning, she said it had been a privilege to have “played my part in the formation of the Labor government” as Sir Keir’s chief of staff, both in opposition and in No 10.
“Throughout my career, my primary interest has always been public service,” she said.
“However, it has become clear to me in recent weeks that heated commentary surrounding my position could distract from the government’s important change work.
“It is for this reason that I have chosen to step aside and I look forward to continuing to support the Prime Minister in his new role.”
Sir Keir thanked Ms Gray for her work in preparing Labor for government and Downing Street, saying he was “pleased” she would stay with him in her new role.
He said: “Sue has played a vital role in strengthening our relationships with regions and countries. I am delighted that she will continue to support this work.”
The latest Labor Party conference was Clothing donation controversy Funding from Labor peer and long-term donor Lord Waheed Alli, whom Ms Gray reportedly authorized Downing Street Temporary Pass After the election.
A Conservative Party spokesman claimed the Labor government was “in chaos”.
He said: “In less than 100 days, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor government has been plunged into chaos – he has lost his chief of staff and he has been at the center of a Labor scandal.
“Sue Gray was brought in to deliver a plan for government, and all we saw was a self-service government.
“The only question that remains is who will rule the country now?”
The Prime Minister has reshuffled his senior team and made four further appointments before celebrating his 100th day in office.
The appointment of James Lyons, the former deputy political editor of The Sunday Times and the Daily Mirror, comes after multiple sources privately expressed dissatisfaction with Downing Street’s communications strategy.
He becomes the new director of strategic communications, along with two new deputy chiefs of staff, Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, and the new principal private secretary to the prime minister, Nin Pandit. Nin Pandit) served together.
Sir Keir said: “This shows my absolute determination to deliver the changes the country voted for.”
