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Sue Gray quits as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Sue Gray has quit her role as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, saying she "risked becoming a distraction". | |
She had been caught up in rows over pay, after the BBC's political editor revealed her salary was higher than Sir Keir's, and donations from Lord Alli. | |
A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed Ms Gray is to take up a new role as the PM's envoy for nations and regions. | |
Labour said Ms Gray will be replaced by Morgan McSweeney, who was previously chief adviser to the PM. | |
Ms Gray, who also worked with Sir Keir as his chief of staff in opposition, said it had been an honour to "play my part in the delivery of a Labour government". | |
"Throughout my career my first interest has always been public service," she said. | |
"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." | |
Thanking Ms Gray for her work preparing Labour for government and in Downing Street, Sir Keir said he was "delighted" she would stay by his side in her new role. | |
He said: "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.” | |
The Labour conference was overshadowed by controversy over clothing donations from Labour peer and longstanding donor Lord Waheed Alli, for whom Ms Gray reportedly authorised a temporary Downing Street pass after the election. | |
A Conservative Party spokesman claimed the Labour government was "in chaos". | |
He 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 in to 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?" | |
The prime minster has reshuffled his top team with four other appointments, ahead of marking his first 100 days in office. | |
There are two new deputy chiefs of staff, Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, a new PM parliamentary private secretary in Nin Pandit, and a new strategic communications boss, James Lyons. | |
Sir Keir said: "This shows my absolute determination to deliver the change the country voted for." | |
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