Sue Grey has dramatically resigned as Keir Starmer’s chief of workers – sparking a significant shake-up inside 10 Downing Road.
The announcement got here following weeks of behind-the-scenes rows among the many prime minister’s prime workforce.
Grey stated latest hypothesis about her future had turn out to be “a distraction to the federal government’s very important work”.
The previous senior civil servant will now take up a brand new function as Starmer’s envoy for nations and areas.
She is being changed as chief of workers by Morgan McSweeney, seen by many as her arch-rival in No.10, as a part of a wider re-organisation inside No.10.
In a press release, the PM stated: “I wish to thank Sue for all of the help she has given me, each in opposition and authorities, and her work to arrange us for presidency and get us began on our programme of change.
“Sue has performed a significant function in strengthening our relationships with the areas and nations. I’m delighted that she’s going to proceed to help that work.”
Grey stated: “After main the Labour social gathering’s preparation for presidency and kickstarting work on our programme for change, I’m trying ahead to drawing on my expertise to help the prime minister and the cupboard to assist ship the federal government’s aims throughout the nations and areas of the UK.
“Along with constructing a detailed partnership with devolved governments, I’m delighted this new function will imply persevering with to work alongside and help the prime minister, deputy prime minister, the cupboard and the mayors on English devolution.
“It has been an honour to tackle the function of chief of workers, and to play my half within the supply of a Labour authorities.
“All through my profession my first curiosity has all the time been public service. Nevertheless in latest weeks it has turn out to be clear to me that intense commentary round my place risked turning into a distraction to the federal government’s very important work of change.
“It’s for that purpose I’ve chosen to face apart, and I stay up for persevering with to help the prime minister in my new function.”
Grey has been accused of failing to put the groundwork for Labour’s first 100 days in workplace, throughout which era the federal government has been hit by a sequence of gaffes and controversies.
One senior official informed HuffPost UK: “Individuals are irritated concerning the lack of preparation for presidency.”
As a part of the broader No.10 shake-up, Downing Road officers Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson have gotten deputy chiefs of workers.
Nin Pandit, who had been director of the Downing Road coverage unit from November 2022, turns into Starmer’s principal non-public secretary.
And former political journalist James Lyons has been appointed No.10′s head of strategic communications.
Starmer stated: “I’m actually happy to have the ability to usher in such proficient and skilled people into my workforce. This reveals my absolute dedication to ship the change the nation voted for.”
A Conservative Occasion spokesperson stated: “In fewer than 100 days Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour authorities has been thrown into chaos – he has misplaced his chief of workers who has been on the centre of the scandal the Labour Occasion has been engulfed by.
“Sue Grey was introduced into ship a programme for presidency and all we’ve seen in that point is a authorities of self-service. The one query that is still is who will run the nation now?”
