LABOUR Government ministers have refused to explain Sue Gray’s “nations envoy” role – despite challenges from MPs highlighting that they are in breach of government guidance.
The SNP’s Brendan O’Hara was one of the MPs to raise the issue of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff with the UK Government on Thursday – as her salary, job description, and start date all remain a mystery.
O’Hara told the Commons: “As you can imagine, the people of Scotland are beside themselves with excitement, in fact they seem fair giddy at the prospect of receiving a visit from this Prime Minister's special envoy.
“But as we prepare the red carpet and the mass pipe bands to welcome her, can I ask exactly what was his department's role in the creation of this post? When will we see a published job description? And when will she finally take up this post officially?”
Responding, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden declined to answer any of the questions posed.
He said: “All I would say to the House is I'm enormously grateful to the Prime Minister's former chief of staff for her efforts as chief of staff.
“I do believe that we want good, normal working relationships with the Scottish Government, and anything to do with the post will be announced in due course.”
On October 6, Gray announced her resignation as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff after bitter infighting in Downing Street spilled out into the public realm. She was replaced by Morgan McSweeney, a close aide of Starmer, and handed a role as the UK Government’s “envoy to the nations and regions”.
However, in the weeks that followed Gray has been absent, including from key events she was expected to attend – such as the inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in Edinburgh on October 11.
There has been no job description or salary published for Gray’s new role, and the UK Government on Wednesday declined to say if she was on paid or unpaid leave – or if she was still earning the £170,000 paycheque she had as chief of staff.
On Thursday, the Tories’ shadow Cabinet Office minister John Glen also raised the issue of Gray’s role and its salary.
He told the Commons: “We support the new Government’s aspirations for the highest ministerial standards and acknowledge the significant experience that the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff can bring to her role as envoy to the nations and regions.
“So why then, in breach of Cabinet Office guidance, have ministers not published a word on her terms of reference, her new salary or her spad [special adviser] severance payment? Or is she correct in her understanding that she’s top of the list of new peers?”
Responding, Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves said: “Anything in relation to the former chief of staff will be announced in due course.
“It’s not right for me to comment on the terms and conditions of any individual.”
And in the Lords, Labour Government whip Ruth Anderson said Gray was "on holiday".
“We are delighted that the Council for Nations and Regions is now up and running and will be meeting again in the spring," Anderson said.
“Sue Gray has been appointed as the envoy, but obviously has had a busy two years while she got ready for ensuring that the Labour Party won the General Election, so is taking a holiday.”
Pressed further on the status of the former top aide, Anderson said: “Sue Gray has been appointed. I am not sure of her start date. I am not in charge of HR for the Government.”
