Partygate report author Sue Gray can work for Labour from September

Partygate report author Sue Gray cleared to work for Keir Starmer as soon as September as appointments watchdog reveals ex-senior civil servant was in talks with Labour for four months before she quit

  • Acoba says ex-Whitehall official can join Labour after a six-month break 

Former senior civil servant Sue Gray has been cleared to start as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff as soon as September.

The ex-Whitehall official, who authored the Partygate report into Covid rule-breaking in Downing Street, has been told she needs to only wait six months before joining Labour.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) said such a period would provide a ‘clear break’ between Ms Gray’s time as a top civil servant and her employment by Sir Keir.

Ms Gray quit her senior role at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in March when it was revealed she had been offered a job by the Labour leader.

It means she will be free to join Sir Keir’s party in September, just before the party’s conference in Liverpool, following Acoba’s advice of a six-month waiting period from her last day in Whitehall on 2 March.

Ms Gray’s offer of employment by Labour caused a furious political row when it emerged earlier this year.

Allies of former prime minister Boris Johnson claimed her talks with Labour had made her Partygate conclusions look ‘like a left-wing stitch up’.

They also raised concerns about the ‘impartiality’ of Whitehall officials. 

Former senior civil servant Sue Gray has been cleared to start as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff as soon as September

The Labour leader has always maintained he’d had no contact while Ms Gray was conducting her inquiry into Downing Street parties

But Sir Keir always maintained he’d had no contact while Ms Gray was conducting her inquiry into Downing Street parties.

In their advice letter to Ms Gray, published today, Acoba said they ‘shared some of the concerns raised by Ms Gray’s former departments about the potential risk to the integrity of the civil service’.

But they found ‘no evidence’ that Ms Gray’s ‘decision-making or ability to remain impartial was impaired whilst she remained in her civil service role’.

The Acoba letter added: ‘Given the lack of commercial risk, and the limited scope for undue influence, the committee determined that twice the standard waiting period would be proportionate to mitigate the risks identified, providing a clear break of six months before Ms Gray takes up the role.’

It also revealed that Ms Gray had told Acoba that she was first approached by Sir Keir in late October last year, just over four months since news of the job offer by Labour first became public.

Sir Keir said: ‘I’m delighted that Sue Gray will be joining Labour as my chief of staff.

‘Sue will lead our work preparing for a mission-led Labour government. She brings unrivalled experience on how the machinery of government works and is a woman of great integrity.

‘After 13 years of the Tories, we know there is much to do to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, grow our economy and rebuild our public services.

‘Should we be privileged enough to be elected, Sue will ensure we’re able to hit the ground running. I look forward to her starting.

‘I’m also grateful to Acoba for their work. We have followed the process and accept their advice.’

Source: Read Full Article