Leaked memo turns up the heat on Keir Starmer over a secret bid to hire Partygate investigator Sue Gray
- The memo placed Sue Gray at the top of the staff hierarchy
Sir Keir Starmer last night came under increased pressure over his attempt to hire Partygate investigator Sue Gray after The Mail on Sunday obtained a Whitehall document detailing her responsibilities while in negotiations with Labour.
The revelation comes ahead of the imminent publication of an inquiry into whether Ms Gray breached official rules by meeting Sir Keir in secret.
Insiders expect it to conclude she breached the Civil Service code on the grounds of impartiality, honesty and integrity.
The document, dated February 2, 2023 and titled Breakdown Of Public Appointments Responsibilities In Cabinet Office, places Ms Gray at the top of a staff hierarchy – with an ultimate oversight of ‘public appointments made across departments, particularly those made by the Crown or PM’.
Controversially in the circumstances, she could also offer ‘advice on the correct application of the Governance Code on Public Appointments’.
Sir Keir Starmer last night came under increased pressure over his attempt to hire Partygate investigator Sue Gray after The Mail on Sunday obtained a Whitehall document detailing her responsibilities while in negotiations with Labour
By the time the document was produced, it is understood that Ms Gray had been in contact with Labour for more than four months.
The move by Ms Gray, who carried out the Partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson’s behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic, has triggered a row over the neutrality of the Civil Service.
The Conservatives have demanded to know when she was first approached by Labour to become Sir Keir’s chief of staff and whether the appointment will go ahead if she is censured.
Ms Gray, who was recruited to head Labour’s ‘transition’ into Government, could be banned from working for the Party until after the next General Election, which is expected by autumn 2024.
She resigned from the Cabinet Office after news of her tipped employment was leaked in March before the role had been discussed with the advisory committee on business appointments.
It could recommend a cooling-off period of up to two years due to her seniority as Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office.
Former top civil servant Sue Gray (pictured) carried out the Partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson’s behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic
Sir Keir last week praised Ms Gray as ‘a woman of incredible integrity’ following reports she was in contact with Harriet Harman – the MP leading the parliamentary investigation into Boris Johnson.
Sky News said Ms Gray had spoken with the Labour MP while she was leading the follow-up Committee of Privileges inquiry into whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament. Ms Harman privately said: ‘I just speak to Sue.’ Guto Harri, who served as No 10’s director of communications under the former Prime Minister, claimed last week that Mr Johnson had branded Ms Gray a ‘psycho’.
Mr Harri said: ‘There was a sense that she lacked perspective as to what he had done. He had respected her a lot, but by the time I got there, I think he was understandably getting suspicious. And by the end, we’re all extremely suspicious of this woman.’
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