Sue Gray quits as Downing Street chief of staff amid ‘distraction’ fears

Sue Gray has quit as Downing Street’s chief of staff because of fears she was “becoming a distraction” to Sir Keir Starmer’s Government.

There have been reports of tensions in Number 10 involving Ms Gray, including between her and Sir Keir’s chief adviser Morgan McSweeney, who will succeed her in the role.

In a statement on Sunday, Ms Gray said she was “pleased to have accepted a new role as the Prime Minister’s envoy for the regions and nations”.

Sir Keir thanked Ms Gray 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.”

In a statement, she said: “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 has described Downing Street as being in “chaos”.

They said in a statement: “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?”