Concerned that her position “risked becoming a distraction to the government,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff resigned on Sunday.
Sue Grey resigned following recent reports that she was making more money than the prime minister and was at odds with Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s main adviser. According to the BBC, Grey received £170,000 ($223,000) a year, around £3,000 more than Starmer receives.
According to Grey, she agreed to take on a new position as Starmer’s representative for the countries and regions. She will be replaced as Downing Street’s chief of staff by McSweeney.
Public service has always been my first interest throughout my career,” Grey said. “However, in recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change.”
After leading investigations into “Partygate”—claims that former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff attended parties on government property in 2022 despite the nation’s stringent COVID-19 lockdown restrictions—Gray, a former senior civil servant, rose to fame in Britain. Johnson resigned last year, but her findings helped bring him down. Last year, Grey left the civil service to become Starmer’s chief of staff at Labour.