Sue Gray quits as Downing Street Chief of Staff

       Sue Gray has quit her role as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, plunging his Government further into crisis.

       The former civil servant had been the Prime Minister's top aide in No10 since Labour's general election victory in July.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Fresh humiliation for Keir Starmer as minister delivers brutal warning

       99 Comments

       Transport Secretary Louise Haigh denies Sir Keir Starmer has issues working with women

       34 Comments

       Keir Starmer might think he's saved himself - here's why it's too little too late for PM

       158 Comments

       Sue Gray to take '￡170k pay cut' in new role after being ousted by Keir Starmer

       120 Comments

       Sue Gray's exit has saved Keir Starmer - but voters won't forgive one huge mistake

       240 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll

       150 Comments

       Keir Starmer's fresh nightmare as Tories just one point behind Labour in bombshell poll

       492 Comments

       Keir Starmer's honeymoon is well and truly dead - and this one stat proves it

       4 Comments

       Keir Starmer left floundering in PMQs mauling

       76 Comments

       Angela Rayner snubbed from top security committee chaired by Keir Starmer

       345 Comments

       Downing Street denies Keir Starmer has a 'woman problem' after Sue Gray's departure

       53 Comments

       Boris Johnson makes bombshell prediction for Tories at next general election

       298 Comments

       Danny Dyer criticises Keir Starmer and praises Angela Rayner in explosive political rant

       6 Comments

       Why Kemi Badenoch is the one to watch in nail-bitingly close Tory leadership race

       1 Comments

       Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dodges questions on Sue Gray's summit absence

       18 Comments

       Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted

       35 Comments

       Keir Starmer blasted for 'disastrous' first 100 days after winter fuel payment fury

       295 Comments

       Keir Starmer torn apart by rivals as Sue Gray 'abandons sinking ship' to escape civil war

       111 Comments

       Sue Gray's MP son's freebies including Taylor Swift tickets and ￡10k from Lord Alli

       79 Comments

       Jeremy Vine guest rips apart Labour in scathing rant as popularity plummets

       Comments

       Fresh humiliation for Keir Starmer as minister delivers brutal warning

       99 Comments

       Transport Secretary Louise Haigh denies Sir Keir Starmer has issues working with women

       34 Comments

       Keir Starmer might think he's saved himself - here's why it's too little too late for PM

       158 Comments

       Sue Gray to take '￡170k pay cut' in new role after being ousted by Keir Starmer

       120 Comments

       Sue Gray's exit has saved Keir Starmer - but voters won't forgive one huge mistake

       240 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll

       150 Comments

       Keir Starmer's fresh nightmare as Tories just one point behind Labour in bombshell poll

       492 Comments

       Keir Starmer's honeymoon is well and truly dead - and this one stat proves it

       4 Comments

       Keir Starmer left floundering in PMQs mauling

       76 Comments

       Angela Rayner snubbed from top security committee chaired by Keir Starmer

       345 Comments

       Downing Street denies Keir Starmer has a 'woman problem' after Sue Gray's departure

       53 Comments

       Boris Johnson makes bombshell prediction for Tories at next general election

       298 Comments

       Danny Dyer criticises Keir Starmer and praises Angela Rayner in explosive political rant

       6 Comments

       Why Kemi Badenoch is the one to watch in nail-bitingly close Tory leadership race

       1 Comments

       Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dodges questions on Sue Gray's summit absence

       18 Comments

       Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted

       35 Comments

       Keir Starmer blasted for 'disastrous' first 100 days after winter fuel payment fury

       295 Comments

       Keir Starmer torn apart by rivals as Sue Gray 'abandons sinking ship' to escape civil war

       111 Comments

       Sue Gray's MP son's freebies including Taylor Swift tickets and ￡10k from Lord Alli

       79 Comments

       Jeremy Vine guest rips apart Labour in scathing rant as popularity plummets

       Comments

       Fresh humiliation for Keir Starmer as minister delivers brutal warning

       99 Comments

       Transport Secretary Louise Haigh denies Sir Keir Starmer has issues working with women

       34 Comments

       Keir Starmer might think he's saved himself - here's why it's too little too late for PM

       158 Comments

       Sue Gray to take '￡170k pay cut' in new role after being ousted by Keir Starmer

       120 Comments

       Sue Gray's exit has saved Keir Starmer - but voters won't forgive one huge mistake

       240 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll

       150 Comments

       Keir Starmer's fresh nightmare as Tories just one point behind Labour in bombshell poll

       492 Comments

       But there have been repeated reports of power battles and bitter tensions between Ms Gray and other senior figures in Government and Downing Street.

       And Ms Gray admitted the rows have become a “distraction”.

       Sir Keir's chief adviser and former Labour general election campaign director, Morgan McSweeney, will replace the former civil servant as Downing Street Chief of Staff.

       Robert Jenrick, who is running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, said Ms Gray's departure is the result of "vicious Labour infighting".

       He said: "Fewer than 100 days in and this Labour Government is in complete disarray.

       "Starmer is without a national security adviser, private secretary and the most senior civil servant has sped up his exit.

       "Now, his handpicked chief of staff has been forced out by vicious Labour infighting. This Government is in free fall."

       Last month, it was leaked to the BBC that Ms Gray was earning more than the Prime Minister, amid a series of briefings against her as chief of staff.

       The broadcaster was told that Ms Gray was earning ￡170,000, which would put her on ￡3,000 more than Sir Keir.

       It comes less than 100 days since Sir Keir walked into Downing Street as Prime Minister.

       Ms Gray said: “After leading the Labour party’s preparation for government and kickstarting work on our programme for change, I am looking forward to drawing on my experience to support the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to help deliver the government’s objectives across the nations and regions of the UK.

       “In addition to building a close partnership with devolved governments, I am delighted this new role will mean continuing to work alongside and support the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Mayors on English devolution.

       “It has been an honour to take on the role of Chief of Staff, and to play my part in the delivery of a Labour government.

       “Throughout my career my first interest has always been public service.

       “However in recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change. It is for that reason I have chosen to stand aside, and I look forward to continuing to support the Prime Minister in my new role.”

       A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “In fewer than 100 days Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government has been thrown into chaos - he has lost his Chief of Staff who has been at the centre of the scandal the Labour Party has been engulfed by.

       “Sue Gray was brought into deliver a programme for government and all we’ve seen in that time is a government of self-service. The only question that remains is who will run the country now?”

       But Keir Starmer said: “I want to thank Sue for all the support she has given me, both in opposition and government, and her work to prepare us for government and get us started on our programme of change.

       “Sue has played a vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions and nations. I am delighted that she will continue to support that work.”

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Fresh humiliation for Keir Starmer as minister delivers brutal warning

       99 Comments

       Transport Secretary Louise Haigh denies Sir Keir Starmer has issues working with women

       34 Comments

       Keir Starmer might think he's saved himself - here's why it's too little too late for PM

       158 Comments

       Sue Gray to take '￡170k pay cut' in new role after being ousted by Keir Starmer

       120 Comments

       Sue Gray's exit has saved Keir Starmer - but voters won't forgive one huge mistake

       240 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll

       150 Comments

       Keir Starmer's fresh nightmare as Tories just one point behind Labour in bombshell poll

       492 Comments

       Keir Starmer's honeymoon is well and truly dead - and this one stat proves it

       4 Comments

       Keir Starmer left floundering in PMQs mauling

       76 Comments

       Angela Rayner snubbed from top security committee chaired by Keir Starmer

       345 Comments

       Downing Street denies Keir Starmer has a 'woman problem' after Sue Gray's departure

       53 Comments

       Boris Johnson makes bombshell prediction for Tories at next general election

       298 Comments

       Danny Dyer criticises Keir Starmer and praises Angela Rayner in explosive political rant

       6 Comments

       Why Kemi Badenoch is the one to watch in nail-bitingly close Tory leadership race

       1 Comments

       Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dodges questions on Sue Gray's summit absence

       18 Comments

       Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted

       35 Comments

       Keir Starmer blasted for 'disastrous' first 100 days after winter fuel payment fury

       295 Comments

       Keir Starmer torn apart by rivals as Sue Gray 'abandons sinking ship' to escape civil war

       111 Comments

       Sue Gray's MP son's freebies including Taylor Swift tickets and ￡10k from Lord Alli

       79 Comments

       Jeremy Vine guest rips apart Labour in scathing rant as popularity plummets

       Comments

       Fresh humiliation for Keir Starmer as minister delivers brutal warning

       99 Comments

       Transport Secretary Louise Haigh denies Sir Keir Starmer has issues working with women

       34 Comments

       Keir Starmer might think he's saved himself - here's why it's too little too late for PM

       158 Comments

       Sue Gray to take '￡170k pay cut' in new role after being ousted by Keir Starmer

       120 Comments

       Sue Gray's exit has saved Keir Starmer - but voters won't forgive one huge mistake

       240 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll

       150 Comments

       Keir Starmer's fresh nightmare as Tories just one point behind Labour in bombshell poll

       492 Comments

       Keir Starmer's honeymoon is well and truly dead - and this one stat proves it

       4 Comments

       Keir Starmer left floundering in PMQs mauling

       76 Comments

       Angela Rayner snubbed from top security committee chaired by Keir Starmer

       345 Comments

       Downing Street denies Keir Starmer has a 'woman problem' after Sue Gray's departure

       53 Comments

       Boris Johnson makes bombshell prediction for Tories at next general election

       298 Comments

       Danny Dyer criticises Keir Starmer and praises Angela Rayner in explosive political rant

       6 Comments

       Why Kemi Badenoch is the one to watch in nail-bitingly close Tory leadership race

       1 Comments

       Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dodges questions on Sue Gray's summit absence

       18 Comments

       Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted

       35 Comments

       Keir Starmer blasted for 'disastrous' first 100 days after winter fuel payment fury

       295 Comments

       Keir Starmer torn apart by rivals as Sue Gray 'abandons sinking ship' to escape civil war

       111 Comments

       Sue Gray's MP son's freebies including Taylor Swift tickets and ￡10k from Lord Alli

       79 Comments

       Jeremy Vine guest rips apart Labour in scathing rant as popularity plummets

       Comments

       Fresh humiliation for Keir Starmer as minister delivers brutal warning

       99 Comments

       Transport Secretary Louise Haigh denies Sir Keir Starmer has issues working with women

       34 Comments

       Keir Starmer might think he's saved himself - here's why it's too little too late for PM

       158 Comments

       Sue Gray to take '￡170k pay cut' in new role after being ousted by Keir Starmer

       120 Comments

       Sue Gray's exit has saved Keir Starmer - but voters won't forgive one huge mistake

       240 Comments

       Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll

       150 Comments

       Keir Starmer's fresh nightmare as Tories just one point behind Labour in bombshell poll

       492 Comments

       As well as Mr McSweeney's move to chief of staff, political director at Number 10 Vidhya Alakeson and director of government relations Jill Cuthbertson have been promoted to deputy chiefs of staff.

       Nin Pandit, director of the Downing Street Policy Unit, has been appointed Principle Private Secretary to the PM.

       And former journalist James Lyons will join to head up a new strategic communications team, Downing Street said.

       Sue Gray has quit as Sir Keir's chief of staff (Image: Getty)

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Trending