Sue Gray: Tory MPs angry over Labour job for Partygate probe chief

Conservative MPs have expressed anger that Partygate investigator Sue Gray has been offered a job as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff.

The civil servant produced a highly critical report into lockdown parties under Boris Johnson that contributed to his downfall as PM.

Allies of the former prime minister have argued it undermines her report and the impartiality of the civil service.

Ms Gray herself has yet to comment.

The government confirmed on Thursday that she has left her position as a senior official at the levelling up and housing department.

A Labour spokesman said she “hopes to accept the role” as Sir Keir’s chief of staff “subject to the normal procedures”.

Conservative MP Alexander Stafford, a former ministerial aide to Mr Johnson, said the appointment “doesn’t pass the sniff test”.

“It really undermines the work that she’s done, undermines the civil service and really puts in question Sir Keir’s complete judgement,” he added.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said there should be “an inquiry” into when she first made contact with Sir Keir.

Former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, a cabinet minister under Mr Johnson, has said Ms Gray’s Partygate conclusions now looked “like a left-wing stitch up”.

However, Labour’s shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said it was “ludicrous” to suggest her appointment undermined her Partygate report.

Ms Gray, she added, was a “hugely respected civil servant” who had served under “successive governments”.

Asked on Today when Ms Gray was first in contact with Sir Keir about a possible job, she replied: “I don’t know the answer to that question”.

Ms Powell said that Ms Gray and Sir Keir would abide by the recommendations of Acoba, the government’s appointments watchdog.

Under the civil service code, officials of Ms Gray’s seniority must wait a minimum of three months before taking up outside employment.

Ms Gray, who joined the civil service in the 1970s, became a household name last year when she was appointed to lead an official inquiry into gatherings in government buildings during lockdown.

She was handed the role after Mr Johnson’s initial choice to lead the probe, top UK civil servant Simon Case, had to step back after after it emerged an event was held in his own office.

Her report, published in May last year, found that there had been widespread rule-breaking of Covid rules within government, and criticised “failures of leadership and judgement” in Downing Street.

A separate inquiry by the Metropolitan Police led to fines for 83 people, including Mr Johnson himself, for attending law-breaking events.

Dave Penman, the boss of the FDA union that represents civil servants, said it was “unforgivable” for Tory MPs to question Ms Gray’s integrity.

He added that “minister after minister found it convenient to hide behind Sue and her unimpeachable reputation” whilst she was conducting her inquiry.