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| Sue Gray quits as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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.” | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | "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 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. | 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. | 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." | Sir Keir said: "This shows my absolute determination to deliver the change the country voted for." |