Sir Keir Starmer avoids questions over probe into Labour’s hiring of Sue Gray
01.05.2023 - 20:33
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has dodged questions over the party's hiring of former civil servant Sue Gray amid speculation he could have to wait a year for her to start as his chief of staff.
Sir Keir told broadcasters there is a 'process in place' but refused to be drawn on details over the timeline between Ms Gray’s resignation from the Cabinet Office and starting her employment with the Labour Party.
It comes after reports in the Mail On Sunday that a Cabinet Office investigation into Ms Gray’s departure from her position in the Cabinet Office could conclude that the her talks with Labour breached the Civil Service Code.
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Separately, The Times reported that it had been told by Whitehall sources that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case had been “instrumental” in recommending that Ms Gray should be barred from taking the senior Labour role until March.
He was also asked about suggestions that Ms Gray, who led a Government investigation into allegations of parties being held in Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown, could be found to have breached the Civil Service Code with her switch.
Sir Keir, asked about the Sunday newspaper report by broadcasters during a local election campaign visit to Blackpool, said: “Sue Gray has a formidable reputation and there is obviously a process that is being gone through.”
However, he switched the conversation on to the cost-of-living crisis, which he said was the main topic on voters’ minds ahead of Thursday’s council elections in England.
The Commons order paper indicates that on Tuesday a written statement will be made offering an “update into the circumstances leading to the resignation of a senior civil