UK: Sue Gray Resigns as Starmer's Chief of Staff

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Facts

  • Sue Gray has stepped down as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, and will be replaced by the prime minister's chief adviser and former Labour election campaign leader Morgan McSweeney.[1]
  • Gray in a statement said she was stepping down because 'intense commentary' about her role 'risked becoming a distraction' for the government. Downing Street has confirmed that Gray will next take on the role of 'envoy for the regions and nations.'[2][3]
  • Before becoming Starmer's chief of staff in spring 2023, Gray held the civil service role of second permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office and led the UK's 'Partygate' COVID inquiry.[4][5]
  • Gray had previously been criticized for taking a political role after her COVID party report, while more recent media scrutiny has concerned the former chief of staff's pay, her working relationship with McSweeney and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, and other issues.[6]
  • This announcement comes alongside the appointments of James Lyons as Downing Street's strategic communications lead, Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson as deputy chiefs of staff, and Nin Pandit as principal private secretary.[7]
  • According to Ipsos, Starmer's net satisfaction rating has declined by 28 points from seven to -21 since the UK's July 4 general election. While 54% are dissatisfied with Starmer's tenure as prime minister, 33% are satisfied.[8]

Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]Guardian, [3]The Telegraph, [4]Independent, [5]Evening Standard, [6]Inews.Co.Uk, [7]The Times and [8]ipsos.com.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Guardian and BBC News. It was wise of Starmer to shake things up in order to end the internal drama that's been a distraction during his first months in office. Some say Gray's ousting is unfair, but it's been well-documented that there were ongoing problems inside No. 10. Once Gray caught the media's attention it was only a matter of time before her exit was confirmed.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Spectator (UK) and The Telegraph. Starmer's government was already in chaos before this shakeup — with a civil war going on within Downing Street and recent public controversies. Gray's resignation demonstrates a dysfunctional operation struggling to maintain stability. Starmer's leadership and ability to focus on important issues should be questioned.

Predictions