Who is Sue Gray? Partygate investigator appointed Labor chief of staff quits | British News

When Sue Gray was working as a senior officer at the time, her findings on Partygate were eagerly awaited, and following a Met Police investigation into events at Downing Street in 2020 and 2021, when government-set lockdown rules were in place, Ms Gray’s full damning report finally published.

Following the publication of the report, Ms Gray was asked by Kier Starmer – the then opposition leader – to become his chief of staff in March 2023 and caused controversy after she was accused of failing to disclose the conversations in advance.

Known for both her ruthless efficiency and her discretion in running the Cabinet Office, Gray has been described by MPs from both major parties as both “the woman who runs the country” and a “vicarious God”.

However, after it was revealed that she had earned a higher salary than the Prime Minister since becoming embroiled in increasing controversy since coming to power in the Labor Party, she today announced her resignation as Starmer’s chief of staff after claiming her position had become “a distraction”.

Here’s everything you need to know about the rise and fall of one of the most powerful figures in the British establishment.

Who is Sue Gray?

Throughout her public service career, Sue Gray has worked in various government departments including Transport, Health and DWP.

Ms Gray took her first job in the Cabinet Office in the late 1990s after taking a “career break” during which she bought and ran a pub in Newry, Northern Ireland, during the height of the Troubles.

She then worked as director-general of decency and ethics from 2012 to 2018, before becoming second permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office from 2021 to 2023 – a role reporting to the UK’s most senior civil servant, Simon Case.

In an interview in 2017, former Cabinet special adviser Polly Mackenzie told the BBC: “Sue has been there for so long, she knows everything that anyone has ever done wrong” and that she was notorious for being involved in editing Ministerial Affairs not to leave a paper trail.

Why was her move to Labor controversial?

From the moment she announced her resignation from public service to join Starmer’s team, Sue Gray courted controversy that ultimately led to her resignation.

At the time of her appointment, a source was quoted as saying: “[Sue Gray] knows how Number 10 works and she is very popular with officers.’

However, all officials must remain impartial and help govern under any elected government, regardless of which party is in charge.

It was suggested that Gray had faced a conflict of interest by joining the Labor Party and not disclosing her intentions.

Several Tory sources described the move as “seriously bad for the reputation of the civil service” and it became the subject of an investigation by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which is responsible for overseeing new posts for former ministers and senior civil servants . She was eventually acquitted.

Why did Sue Gray resign?

The author of the Partygate report has been a high-profile figure in Sir Keir’s top team since she was appointed boss last year while Labor was in opposition.

But in recent weeks Number 10 has been plagued by reports of infighting, as disputes over Ms Gray’s salary and government freebies were among those to dominate the headlines.

But the move has already caused controversy in Wales, with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth describing the appointment as “insulting”.

Responding to the news on Twitter, Iopwerth said: “Three months into Keir Starmer’s term, it’s clear he cares little for Wales.”

“Labour promised change, but cleaning up Tory chaos and replacing it with a different kind of Labor chaos still means chaos.”

“The appointment of an envoy to the nations and regions smacks of a Prime Minister determined to concentrate his efforts on London and the South East and leave the rest to the occasional visit and photo op by a senior official whenever it is electorally convenient is.”

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