Sue, you work for the Labour Party...not the pyjama party! Sir Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff Sue Gray cuts a casual look as she accompanies him to Northern Ireland
Sir Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff Sue Gray cut a casual look yesterday as she accompanied the new Prime Minister to Northern Ireland.
The former top civil servant, who investigated Covid-19 lockdown breaches in Downing Street under ex-PM Boris Johnson, was in Belfast with the new premier as part of his tour of the UK to 'reset' relations with the devolved nations.
Sir Keir used the trip to focus on the importance of keeping the peace in Northern Ireland following The Troubles.
The issue is close to Ms Gray's heart as she once ran a pub in the province with her husband just ten minutes from the border with the Irish Republic, in a part of rural County Down.
Sir Keir Starmer 's Chief of Staff Sue Gray cut a casual look yesterday as she accompanied the new Prime Minister to Northern Ireland
The former top civil servant, who investigated Covid-19 lockdown breaches in Downing Street under ex-PM Boris Johnson , was in Belfast with the new premier as part of his tour of the UK to 'reset' relations with the devolved nations
The fact that Ms Gray, a born-and-bred Londoner, moved to what was known as 'bandit country' at the time sparked questions over whether she was a British spy.
However, she later denied that this was the case.
Ms Gray quit her civil service role in March last year to take up the post as Sir Keir's Chief of Staff, sparking controversy.
Allies of Mr Johnson claimed it showed her report into Downing Street gatherings during the pandemic, which contributed to his resignation in 2022, was a Labour 'stitch-up'.
Last week Ms Gray's son, Liam Conlon, became MP for Beckenham and Penge.
He is one of 47 new MPs endorsed by the Labour Movement for Europe, which favours a much closer deal with the European Union – including aligning with Brussels regulations.
The new intake is set to greatly strengthen the pressure group, which is thought to have already had 80 members. Its chairman is Stella Creasy.
