Sue Gray tipped to become Labour MINISTER as ‘purpose’ of new life peerage role explained

Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Gray “could become a minister”, according to ex-Labour adviser Kevin Meagher.

Speaking on GB News, Meagher said the decision to hand Gray a life peerage plays into a wider strategy by the Labour Party to keep her involved in some form.

She was appointed only two months after she left her role as the prime minister’s chief of staff, amid internal rows over her influence.

Meagher said it is not in Labour’s interests to keep the former civil servant’s skills “on the shelf”.

“A lot of these people are incredibly seasoned and effective and it wouldn’t surprise me if some of these people appointed today make their way into government roles”, he said.

“It wouldn’t surprise me in due course if that’s the career trajectory of Sue Gray. It wouldn’t surprise me if she turned up as a Labour minister at some stage.

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“She is obviously a great operator in Whitehall and I suspect her skills won’t be left to wither on the shelf.”

The announcement was made on Friday, with Gray being one of 30 new Labour peers appointed by the Prime Minister.

The appointment comes just months after Gray stepped down from her role as Starmer’s chief of staff in October, following a shake-up of No.10 less than 100 days after the general election.

Gray, who previously served as a senior civil servant, had been personally recruited by Starmer to help drive through his policies in Whitehall.

Her departure followed weeks of behind-the-scenes tensions with Morgan McSweeney, Downing Street’s head of strategy, who subsequently took over her position.

Reports emerged of internal conflicts that began almost immediately after Labour’s election victory.

The situation was further complicated by revelations that Gray’s £170,000 salary exceeded that of the Prime Minister.

Following her exit from the chief of staff role, Gray was offered a position as Starmer’s envoy to the nations and regions.

However, she declined this alternative role and left the government entirely.