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Starmer defends Sue Gray after reports of No 10 rifts

Sue GrayImage source, PA Media
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Sir Keir Starmer said 鈥渕ost鈥 of the stories about his chief of staff Sue Gray are 鈥渨ildly wrong鈥, after reports of rifts in No 10.

Gray has been the subject of numerous newspaper stories since Labour entered government, including claims she has a fractious relationship with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and strategy chief Morgan McSweeney.

Case is the UK鈥檚 most senior civil servant. McSweeney masterminded Labour鈥檚 successful general election campaign.

A senior government source has told the 91热爆 the claims are 鈥渃ompletely and utterly overblown鈥 and 鈥淪ue is working with teams throughout civil service and acts with nothing but professionalism鈥.

Another within government said of Gray鈥檚 leadership: 鈥淗owever bad you think it is, it鈥檚 worse.鈥

When asked by reporters if Gray had 鈥渂ecome the story鈥, Sir Keir responded: 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to talk behind her back and I鈥檓 not going to talk about individual members of staff, whether it鈥檚 Sue Gray or any other member of staff.

鈥淎ll I can say about the stories is most of them are wildly wrong.鈥

Gray controversially joined Labour as the leader鈥檚 top aide last year after more than 30 years in the civil service.

She was thrust into the public spotlight in 2022 when she led an investigation into gatherings in government offices during the Covid-19 pandemic, while Boris Johnson was prime minister.

Her report found staff attended events on multiple occasions while the rest of the UK was in lockdown, and partly blamed the leadership in Downing Street.

Johnson faced calls to resign following the report, which contributed to the Tory disquiet that led to his downfall as prime minister.

Some Tories had expressed anger that Gray was offered a job as the Labour leader's chief of staff, arguing it undermined the impartiality of her inquiry into lockdown-breaking parties.