Former Downing Street chief of staff Sue Gray has opted out of becoming the envoy to the nations and regions, a role she was set to take on after her resignation from a key government position in October. Her decision follows reports of internal conflicts at Downing Street involving Ms Gray and other close aides to the Prime Minister.
Initially planning a holiday before starting her new role, Ms Gray faced significant media attention. However, it was revealed on Tuesday that she will not be assuming the position as previously expected.
When questioned about whether the job offer was rescinded or if Ms Gray herself chose to step back, a Number 10 spokeswoman explained: “As we said at the time, the appointment had been agreed and you had the focus for the new role and the original statements from both the Prime Minister and Sue Gray.”
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She added, “Subsequent to that, we confirmed that she was taking a break between roles and taking up duties and, as I said, I can update that she has since decided not to take up the role.”
There are currently “no plans” for updates on whether the envoy role will be filled by someone else, with Downing Street maintaining they will review the necessity of the position to support the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in their focus on the regions and nations.
A spokesperson added: “I don’t have any immediate plans to update you on as to further recruitment, but to be very clear, resetting our relationships and working with the regions and nations has been at the heart of everything the Government does.”
Downing Street had previously described the job as a “vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions and nations”. Ms Gray would have acted as a go-between for ministers with devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and regional mayors across England.
However, her future in the job was cast into doubt not long after she resigned as chief of staff, when she failed to appear at the first summit between the Government and leaders from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions. When asked why there were no plans to fill the role given it was previously described as “vital” to Government, No 10 said Ms Gray had been “uniquely placed” to hold the position and repeated that the role would be kept “under review”.
Reports in the Guardian newspaper suggested Downing Street was prepared to withdraw the offer, and also said there were concerns about the media attention which would likely follow Ms Gray if she were to accept the role. However, the Financial Times claimed Ms Gray rejected the job.
“Sue has taken a decision not to take the role. She’s going to focus on other things,” an ally of the ex-civil servant told the FT.
An insider noted: “She’s taken time to think about it properly, talking to stakeholders, but ultimately she’s decided she doesn’t want to do it.”
The former aide stepped down from Government in early October amid discussions of a power struggle at Downing Street. Once she resigned, the role of Sir Keir’s chief of staff was filled by Labour’s political strategy head, Morgan McSweeney.
Gray rose to prominence as a senior civil servant leading the investigation of the Partygate scandal during Boris Johnson’s tenure. In March 2023, she left her civil service post to take on the chief of staff position for Sir Keir and had a six-month period to wait before beginning her role with the new Labour Government.
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