Sue Gray has turned down Sir Keir Starmer’s offer to become the prime minister’s envoy for the nations and regions, No 10 said, in yet another blow to the prime minister as questions continue about his Downing Street operation.
Ms Gray was sacked as chief of staff last month after losing a power struggle with election strategist Morgan McSweeney.
It came as the prime minister attempted to reshuffle his top team of advisers following a dreadful start to his government, which has been plagued by infighting, a row over freebies and complaints that he is failing to get his message over on difficult policies like ditching winter fuel payments.
This latest blow comes as the government is locked in a row about the new family farm tax.
But The Independent understands that questions were being raised almost immediately after Sir Keir appeared to attempt to appease Ms Gray’s humiliation with a new job of envoy for the nations and regions. But she failed to turn up at a nations and regions conference that same week and now appears to have rejected the role after months of speculation.
It is understood that ministers involved in the nations and regions portfolio were “less than impressed” and “not enthusiastic” about the idea of Ms Gray, with questions over whether she would be telling them what to do.
No 10 repeatedly said she was on a short break before taking up her new post, but has since confirmed she has decided not to take up the role.
Meanwhile, an ally of Ms Gray told the Financial Times she is “going to focus on other things”.
“She’s taken time to think about it properly, talking to stakeholders, but ultimately she’s decided she doesn’t want to do it”, they added.
There have also been rumours that the prime minister was considering withdrawing the job offer.
No 10 had previously described her new position as a “vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions and nations”.
In the job, she would have acted as a go-between for ministers with devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and regional mayors across England.
On Tuesday, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “Sue has played a vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions, as such she was in a unique place to build on that.
“But she has decided not to take up that role. We will keep that role under review to ensure we have the right processes in place in terms of the regions and nations.”
Her resignation as chief of staff followed weeks of infighting almost from the moment Labour won a historic election result, coupled with questions over gifts for the prime minister, and fears the government had lost control of its own agenda.
The prime minister was forced to reset his top team in an attempt to regain control of the political agenda, even after announcements about restricting gifts in the future and paying back some of them.
At the time, Ms Gray agreed to take up the new role in government following an admission she had become a “distraction”, not least over revelations of her £170,000 salary – more than the prime minister.
In a statement, Sir Keir thanked Ms Gray for her work to “prepare us for government and get us started on our programme of change”.
Ms Gray did have some support among the metropolitan mayors. Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen told The Independent: “She was effective and helped me get stuff done over the few months she was there.”
