Sue Gray

The resignation of the senior civil servant was accepted with 'immediate effect' on Thursday.

Keir Starmer is delighted she is hoping to join our preparations for government and our mission to build a better Britain.” A Labour Party spokesman said: “The Labour Party has offered Sue Gray the role of chief of staff to the Leader of the Opposition. [Nadine Dorries](/topic/nadine-dorries), who served as Mr Johnson’s Culture Secretary, described the Gray report as a “stitch-up” and said the move to Sir Keir’s office was “not surprising”. [Labour](/topic/labour) leader was “delighted” that the senior civil servant plans to “accept the role subject to the normal procedures”, his party said. She criticised “failures of leadership and judgment” in No10 and said “the senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility”. [Boris Johnson](/topic/boris-johnson) have called for [Keir Starmer](/topic/keir-starmer)’s appointment of [Sue Gray](/topic/sue-gray) as his chief of staff to be blocked.

As a cabinet minister under Boris Johnson, Rees-Mogg had often fielded questions about the report, and repeatedly claimed Gray's findings would be independent.

[Rishi Sunak](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/rishi-sunak)) was [fined £50 for his part in partygate in April, ](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/boris-johnson-rishi-sunak-fines-partygate-questions_uk_62569e8be4b0be72bff0a03a)apologised, and was then able to keep his job. [also pointed out to HuffPost UK ](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/tory-anger-sue-gray-partygate_uk_6400de4fe4b00c411f22d822)on Thursday night: “The conspiracy theorists like Jacob Rees-Mogg will see this as evidence that Boris was framed, but that is obviously nonsense. [ Nadine Dorries ](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nadine-dorries)tweeted: “Sue Gray moves to Starmer’s office not surprising. [Chris Pincher](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/chris-pincher/) as his own deputy chief whip. [Alistair Campbell](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/alistair-campbell) [Tony Blair’s former spin doctor] heaped praise upon her. [eceive the report before it was made available to the public.](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sue-gray-report-partygate-boris-johnson_uk_61ee8c40e4b03c2b084cbe78) Rees-Mogg was not the only Johnson loyalist to try to smear the Gray report in the wake of the news either. [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/jacob-rees-mogg) has joined in with the chorus of [Tories](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservatives) trying to [undermine](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/tory-anger-sue-gray-partygate_uk_6400de4fe4b00c411f22d822) [Sue Gray](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sue-gray)’s report, after her new appointment as [Keir Starmer’s](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer) [chief of staff](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sue-gray-chief-of-staff-keir-starmer_uk_6400bc8ee4b0bdb99f4a8c30) – but his own words have now come back to bite him. [GB News ](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gb-news)host tweeted in response to Gray’s new role: “So much for an impartial civil service, the Gray report now looks like a left wing stitch up against a Tory prime minister.” [Gray became a household name](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sue-gray/) as the senior civil servant in charge of the government-backed, internal investigation, into [partygate](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/partygate) last year. [Boris Johnson](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/boris-johnson), Rees-Mogg had often fielded questions about the report, and repeatedly claimed Gray’s findings would be independent. Despite this, as Twitter users are pointing out, Rees-Mogg repeatedly pointed out to journalists: “Sue Gray is independent and is preparing the report in her own time without coming under pressure from the government.” However, the-then prime minister had actually ordered Gray to carry out the report in the first place, and was set to r

Comments come as Tory anger grows over Labour poaching Gray to work as Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

She told the Today programme that it was “utterly ludicrous” to suggest the Labour appointment discredited the findings of the Gray report. It is also worth pointing out that no one has provided any evidence to suggest the facts or findings in the report were flawed. Conservative MPs are furious this morning about the news that Sue Gray, the civil servant who led the Partygate investigation, has been poached by Labour to work as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. But there are plenty of people who do jobs that give them access to privileged information, and then change jobs or careers but continue to respect the obligations of confidentiality from their previous employment. The most prominent example is Jonathan Powell, who left a senior job at the Foreign Office to become Tony Blair’s chief of staff two years before an election that Blair seemed certain to win. In another case, Coyle, who was elected as a Labour MP but who has been sitting as an independent since being suspended by the party, was “accused of bullying and harassment of a parliamentary journalist”. The most striking aggravating factor [in relation to the first complaint] was the ‘power gradient’ between an MP and a junior member of staff. But Thomas rejected suggestions that the appointment meant Gray might have acted in a biased manner as a civil servant. This really doesn’t pass the sniff test, it really undermines the work that she’s done, undermines the civil service and really puts in question Sir Keir’s complete judgment. This appointment invalidates her Partygate report and shows that there was a socialist cabal of Boris haters, who were delighted to remove him. In an interview on BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, he said he had not yet decided whom to back in the leadership contest. Alexander Stafford, the Tory MP and former parliamentary private secretary to Johnson, was interviewed on the programme just before Labour’s Lucy Powell.

Ms Powell said it was an attempt by Mr Johnson to “vindicate himself further” over his involvement in Covid lockdown parties at No 10. Ms Powell insisted “ ...

The former civil servant told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I do think this is unusual, it’s surprising. Alexander Stafford, a former parliamentary aide to Mr Johnson, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “Of course it's dodgy. This blows apart the idea of civil service impartiality. Asked whether Ms Gray's knowledge of ministerial appointments and conflicts of interest made her attractive to Labour, Ms Powell told Times Radio: “Absolutely not. This appointment stinks,” he said. It is just extraordinary that they are trying to use that.

Shadow culture secretary's comments follow decision to hire civil servant who oversaw Partygate inquiry.

Many in the party are demanding to know when Labour first made contact with Gray, and whether they did so while her Partygate inquiry was ongoing. Rishi Sunak was reported on Friday to be concerned that Gray could use “privileged information” from her Downing Street days to help Starmer. Alexander Stafford, a Tory MP and former parliamentary aide to Johnson, said on Friday: “This really doesn’t pass the sniff test. Some have likened it to Tony Blair’s appointment of the senior diplomat Jonathan Powell as his chief of staff in 1995. It really undermines the work that she’s done, it undermines the civil service and really puts questions to Keir’s judgment.” Labour will delay the controversial appointment of Sue Gray as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff beyond the next election if that is the recommendation of a government committee, according to a member of the shadow cabinet.

The BBC presenter ended up cutting short his interview with Alex Stafford.

So I’ll ask it again: do you want a fresh inquiry into the partygate allegations?” Robinson then cut in: “Well let’s leave the interview there, Mr Stafford. Sue Gray didn’t unlock the bottles of wine, she didn’t deliver the suitcases of alcohol, she didn’t deliver a fridge to Downing Street. The MP replied: “Because we need to work out who was [Sue Gray] actually working for? I’m asking you about the parties. The increasingly-frustrated presenter responded: “No, I’m not asking you a question about Sue Gray, Mr Stafford.

Anger is growing in the Conservative party over Sue Gray's appointment as Labour leader Keir Starmer's chief of staff – with some now claiming her Par...

Gray, who is a veteran of the civil service, was appointed by Boris Johnson to lead the investigation into whether illegal aprties were held on Downing Street during lockdown. Keir Starmer is delighted she is hoping to join our preparation for government and our mission to build a better Britain." The Gray report was a stitch up of PM and CSs." Nadine Dorries, Johnson ally and former culture secretary, suggested it supports her theory of a "stitch up" of the former prime minister. Following the release of the report he claimed he had been "vindicated". A Labour party spokesperson said: "The Labour Party has offered Sue Gray the role of chief of staff to the leader of the opposition.

Claiming that Boris Johnson was forced out by her 'Partygate' probe allows former PM's allies to undermine his successor.

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The Privileges Committee has released a 24 page dossier claiming it would have been "obvious" to Boris Johnson that rules were being broken on Downing ...

In his statement, Mr Johnson said: “It is clear from this report that I have not committed any contempt of Parliament. It will examine claims by the then-prime minister in December 2021 that “all guidance was followed completely in No. It is not year clear if he intends to do that. The Privileges Committee said it will consider why Mr Johnson told MPs that no guidance had been broken “when he knew what the guidance was and was in attendance at gatherings where the guidance was breached”. In a statement, he said: "It is surreal to discover that the Committee proposes to rely on evidence culled and orchestrated by Sue Gray, who has just been appointed Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Labour Party. Releasing a report ahead of Mr Johnson's hearing, in order to give him chance to formulate a response, the committee said: “The evidence strongly suggests that breaches of guidance would have been obvious to Mr Johnson at the time he was at the gatherings.”

Top official Sue Gray has been offered a job as chief of staff to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

But he added: "It hasn't happened before with a civil servant who was still serving of this seniority and with the public profile and career history in the deep centre of government that Sue Gray has." Alex Thomas, a former official who now works at the Institute for Government think tank, said Ms Gray's appointment was "unusual" and raised "tricky questions for the civil service". He added that "minister after minister found it convenient to hide behind Sue and her unimpeachable reputation" whilst she was conducting her inquiry. Dave Penman, the boss of the FDA union that represents civil servants, said it was "unforgivable" for Tory MPs to question Ms Gray's integrity. He added that the former prime minister should "confront the evidence that is there in front of him," which he said was "pretty damning". She added that this was "well after" the civil servant's Partygate report was published.

Veteran civil servant Sue Gray, who led last year's 'partygate' investigation, has left her government position to take up a senior role in Labour as ...

We understand she hopes to accept the role subject to the normal procedures," a Labour Party spokesperson said, confirming the appointment. "The Labour Party has offered Sue Gray the role of chief of staff to the Leader of the Opposition. Gray resigned from her job as head of the Union and Constitution Directorate at the Cabinet Office to take up the new role on Thursday, according to

The senior civil servant, who investigated the partygate scandal, has quit the Cabinet Office.

Labour has not commented on whether Ms Gray has been appointed, but earlier in the day a spokesman said “the process is ongoing, nobody has been offered the job”. Acoba does not have the power to block an appointment. Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said he was “genuinely shocked”, and accused Sir Keir of having “scant regard for the public image of the civil service and the damage this will do”.

Friends of former PM say appointment calls into question parliamentary inquiry into whether Johnson misled MPs.

A party spokesperson said: “The Labour party has offered Sue Gray the role of chief of staff to the leader of the opposition. There has also been nothing to indicate the events detailed in Gray’s published report were not accurate. And now she is Keir Starmer’s most senior political appointee.” The news has drawn a furious response from The veteran official, who has led numerous investigations into ministerial misconduct and served for decades in Whitehall departments, has resigned from her civil service role. On Thursday evening, Jacob Rees-Mogg called for an inquiry into Gray’s contacts with the Labour party, and said her decision to to take a job with Labour “invalidates” her report into lockdown parties in Downing Street.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray, who investigated lockdown gatherings in Downing Street, has been offered a job as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

It's important to stress that Ms Gray taking a political job with Labour doesn't mean she was ever biased in her role as a civil servant. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Sue Gray has resigned from the post of Second Permanent Secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Why are Labour making this appointment? Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said he was "genuinely shocked", and accused Sir Keir of having "scant regard for the public image of the civil service and the damage this will do". [criticised "failures of leadership and judgment" in No 10](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61578730) and said "the senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility". A Labour spokesman said Sir Keir was "delighted" that "she hopes to accept the role subject to the normal procedures".

Labour leader 'delighted' – but Tories cry 'stitch up' as top civil servant who led inquiry quits government.

A Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Party has offered Sue Gray the role of chief of staff. “I thought that was pretty funny until they actually fined me for having lunch at my place at the cabinet table in 10 Downing Street,” he said. In a “famous sayings” round they were asked about Conor Burns’ infamous defence of Mr Johnson – that he had been “ambushed by cake”. Keir Starmer is delighted she is hoping to join our preparations for government and our mission to build a better Britain.” Sir Tony Blair’s former chief of staff has welcomed the move. News of Ms Gray’s Labour job caused anger among Conservative MPs at an away day at the luxury Windsor Fairmont Hotel organised by Mr Sunak. Tory peer Lord Cruddas – another Johnson backer – pointed out that the Gray report had been sent to the privileges committee currently investigating whether the former PM lied to parliament. They pointed to Ms Gray’s role in key events which led to Mr Johnson’s downfall, accusing her of bias. This blows apart the idea of civil service impartiality. Although Acoba can offer recommendations on the suitability of post-government roles, it is ultimately up to What a stitch-up,” he tweeted. This appointment stinks,” he said.

LONDON — Labour leader Keir Starmer has chosen Sue Gray, the senior civil servant who investigated pandemic rule-busting parties in Boris Johnson's ...

“We understand she hopes to accept the role subject to the normal procedures,” they added. “We can confirm that Sue Gray has resigned from the post of second permanent secretary in the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities,” a Cabinet Office spokesperson said. They said: “This is a staggering revelation which the cabinet secretary needs to fully investigate. Her expected appointment to the Labour job has sparked fury from some senior Tories. One senior Whitehall official said: “The general reaction of the main civil service heads of department is surprise and deep disappointment. But netting a respected Whitehall operator to help the official U.K.

The investigator for the Partygate scandal, Sue Gray, has been appointed Labour chief of staff by Sir Keir Starmer.

Sue Gray has played a leading role in ethics and behaviour in government for the best part of a decade. News that Sue Gray could be given a major role in the She was the head of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet Office from 2012 to 2018 where she gained a fearsome reputation for overseeing ministerial behaviour. [Sue Gray](https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/20164411.full-sue-gray-report-released---download-view-report/) will take on her new role as her appointment will have to be checked by the watchdog that oversees new roles for former ministers and senior civil servants. Sue Gray recently stepped down from the Cabinet Office and was expected to take a new role with the main opposition party. Sue Gray, who led the investigation into the lockdown parties that took place in Downing Street, has been given a Labour Party role by Sir Keir Starmer.

Sue Gray, the senior civil servant who led the investigation into 'partygate', is reportedly set to be appointed as Keir Starmer's new chief of staff, ...

Johnson told MPs after the emergence of the initial allegations that “the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times”. In some of the photographs, the then Prime Minister can be seen raising a glass in a crowded room. [said](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/sue-gray-partygate-keir-starmer-chief-of-staff-b1064342.html): “I can confirm that Sue Gray has resigned from the post of second permanent secretary. You’ll find no greater champion for a Starmer government than me.” This was accepted by the department’s permanent secretary and the cabinet secretary with immediate effect. An event allegedly held in Johnson’s private residence in No 10 on November 13th was not investigated by Gray.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray, who investigated lockdown gatherings in Downing Street, has been offered a job as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

It's important to stress that Ms Gray taking a political job with Labour doesn't mean she was ever biased in her role as a civil servant. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Sue Gray has resigned from the post of Second Permanent Secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Why are Labour making this appointment? Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said he was "genuinely shocked", and accused Sir Keir of having "scant regard for the public image of the civil service and the damage this will do". [criticised "failures of leadership and judgment" in No 10](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61578730) and said "the senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility". A Labour spokesman said Sir Keir was "delighted" that "she hopes to accept the role subject to the normal procedures".

Allies of Boris Johnson have reacted furiously as partygate investigator Sue Gray plans to join Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's office as his chief of ...

Keir Starmer is delighted she is hoping to join our preparations for government and our mission to build a better Britain.” Acoba does not have the power to block an appointment. The Institute for Government think tank’s Alex Thomas said the move would be “difficult for the civil service”, saying it would give “critics a stick”. Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said he was “genuinely shocked”, and accused Sir Keir of having “scant regard for the public image of the civil service and the damage this will do”. A Labour Party spokesman said: “The Labour Party has offered Sue Gray the role of chief of staff to the Leader of the Opposition. The Labour leader was “delighted” that the senior civil servant plans to “accept the role subject to the normal procedures”, his party said.

A "friend" of Boris Johnson claims the ex-PM is the victim of a "plot" after Keir Starmer appoints investigator of lockdown rule-breaking.

Keir Starmer is delighted she is hoping to join our preparations for government and our mission to build a better Britain.” Acoba does not have the power to block an appointment. But her full report in May 2022 proved to be a bombshell. The move prompted anger among allies of Johnson. A Labour Party spokesman said: “The Labour Party has offered Sue Gray the role of chief of staff to the Leader of the Opposition. [Keir Starmer](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/Keir-Starmer)’s office.