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On Wednesday, the BBC revealed it had been told that Ms Gray asked for and was given a salary of \u00a3170,000 after July’s election – about \u00a33,000 more than the PM and more than her Conservative predecessor, Rishi Sunak’s chief of staff. <\/p>\n
One source told the BBC: “It was suggested that she might want to go for a few thousand pounds less than the prime minister to avoid this very story. She declined.”<\/p>\n
But others in government have spoken passionately in Ms Gray\u2019s defence, and believe there is a misplaced, grossly unfair and deeply personal campaign against her. <\/p>\n
Baroness Harman, former deputy Labour leader and veteran MP, told BBC Newsnight: “There is something about an older woman in authority that some young men find hard to put up with…<\/p>\n
“For them to be moaning about their pay and trying to show her in a bad light when she\u2019s really an exceptional and talented public servant, I think that\u2019s a thoroughly bad thing.”<\/p>\n
Her salary has proved particularly controversial partly because other advisers believe they are being underpaid.<\/p>\n
Most were expecting pay rises when they entered government, only to discover they would be paid less.<\/p>\n
Many of the disappointed advisers blame Ms Gray specifically – although others insist pay is a matter for civil servants.<\/p>\n
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds dismissed suggestions the prime minister had personally intervened to increase Ms Gray’s salary, saying ministers had “no input” in what their advisers were paid. <\/p>\n
“There\u2019s a process that exists, it\u2019s a civil service process, it hasn\u2019t changed. It\u2019s wrong to say there\u2019s any kind of political input in there or people set their own pay bands. <\/p>\n
“I don\u2019t even get to set the pay for my own advisers… I think there are and always have been officials who are paid more than politicians in our system and that hasn\u2019t changed,” he told BBC Breakfast. <\/p>\n
Mr Reynolds acknowledged that leaks about issues in government such as Ms Gray\u2019s pay were \u201cannoying\u201d and “a permanent frustration”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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