When she oversaw the investigation into the partygate scandal, the civil servant rose to prominence. Her appointment must be approved by the agency that oversees new positions for former ministers and senior government officials.
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Sue Gray as his director of staff.
During the partygate controversy, the senior civil servant became a household name as the author of the report that found “a failure of leadership and judgment” at Number 10 during Boris Johnson’s premiership.
She has abandoned her position in the civil service in preparation for her new position.
It is unclear when Ms. Gray will assume the position, as the appointment must be approved by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which oversees new positions for former ministers and senior civil servants (ACOBA).
According to the ACOBA website, the organization advises the prime minister on appointment-related matters.
Rishi Sunak will be the one to decide whether or not to accept the appointment.
Some Conservative Party members are upset that the opposition party has hired someone they think helped bring down Boris Johnson.
Nadie Dorries, a loyalist of Boris Johnson, stated that the appointment was “not surprising,” alleging that the partygate report was a “set-up” involving Johnson and civil servants.
Mark Jenkinson, a member of the Red Wall, responded by saying “all part of the plan”. With an emoji of a pair of eyes, again implying bias in Ms. Gray’s report.
Ms. Gray is feared in Whitehall because she was the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics boss from 2012 to 2018.
Alao Ms. Gray is the daughter of Irish immigrants, and her son Liam Conlon is the chair of Labour’s Irish Society, an organization formerly led by Starmer’s director of communications, Matthew Doyle.
Sam White, Sir Keir’s head of staff for a year, was fired.
Due to the relative inexperience of the Labour leader’s team, allies stated that a candidate who understands how to operate at the highest level of government is essential.
Ms. Gray’s appointment is reminiscent of Tony Blair’s hiring of diplomat Jonathan Powell in 1995 when Labour was in opposition.
Mr. Powell was Number 10’s first head of staff. And he participated in Northern Ireland peace talks before the Good Friday Agreement.
According to a Labour source, “[Sue Gray] understands how Number 10 operates and is well-liked by civil servants.”
