THE Labour Government has been accused of showing a “colonial mindset” after handing a key Keir Starmer ally the role of “envoy” to the nations and regions of the UK.
Sue Gray was forced to resign as Starmer’s chief of staff on Sunday amid infighting inside the newly Labour-run Downing Street, with the party’s election campaign chief Morgan McSweeney instead taking on the role.
Gray has not been ousted from government altogether however, with the Labour administration instead announcing that she would become the Prime Minister’s “envoy for the regions and nations”.
The newly created role sparked a backlash across the political divide, with both SNP and Tory politicians questioning the position.
Chris Law, the SNP MP for Dundee Central and the party’s international trade spokesperson at Westminster, quoted the title of Gray role and added: “If there ever was a colonial mindset then this is it!”
He went on: “We already have Secretaries of State and Ministers of State for each of the nations. “Envoy is a person deputed by a government to negotiate [a] treaty, or transact business, with a foreign government.”
‘Nations and Regions’ is now a place that people are sent when they are sacked by 10 Downing Street under Labour. Can you hear the pennies dropping in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? https://t.co/QFw2uKPsuF
— Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) October 6, 2024
Scotland’s Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson also questioned the role handed to Gray, writing on social media: “‘Nations and Regions’ is now a place that people are sent when they are sacked by 10 Downing Street under Labour.
“Can you hear the pennies dropping in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?”
And Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop added: “Nothing smacks of a confession from the UK Labour Government and Keir Starmer that they don’t understand Scotland than the need to have anyone from the UK Labour Government in the position of ‘envoy’ to the nations and regions.”
Simon Hoare, a Tory MP who serves as the chair of Westminster’s Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, questioned Gray’s position.
“Her new job does sound a bit like the Chief Assistant to the Assistant Chief’s Chief Assistant.”
Gray said on Sunday: “It has been an honour to take on the role of chief of staff, and to play my part in the delivery of a Labour government.
"Throughout my career my first interest has always been public service. 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.”
