Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has stated that he had “absolutely no contact” with Sue Gray, a former senior civil servant who produced a highly critical report on lockdown meetings held in Downing Street, during the time she was preparing the report. Ms. Gray quit her job on Thursday and is expected to become Sir Keir’s chief of staff. However, some Conservatives, including Boris Johnson, have criticised her proposed action, arguing that it undermines her conclusions in the report.
Sir Keir has denied any contact with Ms. Gray during the preparation of her report and stated that he has been searching for a chief of staff for “a little while,” but that Ms. Gray will “lay that out.” He added that he had known Ms. Gray from 2008 to 2013, when he served as director of public prosecutions, but she was not a friend.
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) has confirmed that Ms. Gray has informed them of her intended move and will provide guidance on an appropriate waiting period before she assumes her new position. Michelle Donelan, the Science Secretary, stated that there was “no reason to believe” that Ms. Gray was not impartial during her investigation, but that questions should be raised about how she obtained her new position. Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, stated that Sir Keir had been searching for a new chief of staff for “several weeks” and that Ms. Gray “was always on the list.”
Boris Johnson is currently the subject of a separate investigation into whether he misled the House of Commons regarding the lockdown gatherings in Downing Street. In an initial report released on Friday, the MPs stated that the evidence they had seen “strongly suggests” that Mr. Johnson would have been “aware” of Covid rule violations. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris praised Ms. Gray for her “integrity” but urged Sir Keir to publish all his communications with her.
Sue Gray is a highly esteemed government employee who joined in the 1970s. She has held a number of prestigious positions over the years, including head of the government’s propriety and ethics team. She is scheduled to tell Acoba on Monday when she first discussed the position of chief of staff. Labour has stated that they will adhere to any recommendations made by Acoba.
Sir Keir Starmer stated that he had “absolutely no contact” with Sue Gray during the time she was preparing her report on the Covid lockdown meetings in Downing Street. Ms. Gray, who resigned on Thursday, is set to become Sir Keir’s chief of staff, despite opposition from some Conservatives, including Boris Johnson. Acoba has confirmed that they are advising on an appropriate waiting period before Ms. Gray assumes her new position, and Labour has stated that they will adhere to any advice they provide. In the meantime, a separate investigation is examining whether Mr. Johnson misled Congress regarding the lockdown gatherings in Downing Street. Sue Gray is a highly esteemed public servant who has held a number of prestigious positions over the years, including the position of head of the government’s propriety and ethics team.