Sue Gray will not take up new regions role after resignation as PM’s top aide
Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Gray will not take up a role as envoy to the nations and regions, it is understood.
Ms Gray was due to take up the new job after she resigned from her position at the heart of Government in October.
Power struggle
This followed intense media speculation about a power struggle within Downing Street.
The former chief of staff was said to be taking a holiday before taking up her new post.
But on Tuesday it emerged that she will now not be taking up the new role as planned following her break from Government.
Reports in the Guardian newspaper suggested Downing Street was prepared to withdraw the offer, and also said there were concerns about the media attention which would likely follow Ms Gray if she were to accept the role.
But the Financial Times instead claimed Ms Gray rejected the job.
“Sue has taken a decision not to take the role. She’s going to focus on other things,” an ally of the ex-civil servant told the FT.
They added: “She’s taken time to think about it properly, talking to stakeholders, but ultimately she’s decided she doesn’t want to do it.”
Exit
Previous reporting suggested Ms Gray was negotiating over the terms of the job and her exit from Downing Street.
Downing Street had previously described the envoy to the nations and regions as a “vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions and nations”.
In the job, she would have acted as a go-between for ministers with devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and regional mayors across England.
Ms Gray’s future in the post was cast into doubt not long after she resigned from her job at No 10, after she failed to appear at the first summit between the Government and leaders from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions.
The former aide had resigned from Government in early October after reports of a power struggle within Downing Street.
After she stood down, Labour’s head of political strategy Morgan McSweeney became Sir Keir’s chief of staff.
Ms Gray first became a public figure when as a top civil servant she spearheaded the report into the Partygate scandal of Boris Johnson’s ministry.
In March 2023, she resigned from the civil service to take up the chief of staff role for Sir Keir, and was subject to a six-month wait before she was able to begin working for the new Labour Government.
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With a bit of luck that will be the last we ever hear of her.
oh noes, what will the daily wail whinge about now?
Sue Gray is old news. I care about Wales not that she’s not taking up her role. And don’t worry all, she’ll receive a handsome golden handshake from Labour for her services to her party. So don’t cry a tear for this unelected public servant. She’s doing very well out of this unlike Wales who is likely paying. The so-called ” nations & regions” post is just another Labour designed facade. Any decision about funding, investment and powers have already been decided by Keir Starmer & cabinet in London. Reality is, any lionshare of infrastructure build & money will like… Read more »
The role was made up for the lady. What we really need is Westminster ministers and the Treasury to properly liaise and talk with the Senedd and Welsh Goverment and to respect devolution instead of trying to undermine it.
Her downfall was her greed. If she’d accepted a salary lower than the UK prime minister she’d have kept her job in 10 Downing Street.
The post was contrived to farm her out after being ousted in a Labour power struggle. With a First Minister and a Secretary of State for Wales what was the purpose of the post to start with just more Labour cronyism at tax payers expense.
A worse drama than Emmerdale.