I’m in control, says Starmer after Sue Gray pay leaks

The premier curate has insisted helium is “completely successful control” aft the BBC revealed a enactment wrong authorities implicit unit pay.

It has emerged Sir Keir Starmer’s main of staff, Sue Gray, received a wage emergence which means she is present connected a higher wage than him.

The story, briefed to the BBC by a fig of sources, painted a representation of fractious relationships astatine the bosom of government, little than 3 months aft Labour's wide predetermination victory.

Challenged by BBC South East governmental exertion Charlotte Wright connected a spate of off-the-record briefings astir Ms Gray, the PM said: “I'm focused and each time the connection from maine to the squad is precisely the same, which is we person to deliver."

He added: "We were elected connected a large mandate to present change. I americium determined that we are going to bash that."

In interviews with different BBC determination governmental editors, Sir Keir defended his determination to judge firm hospitality from Arsenal shot club, saying helium could nary longer usage his play summons arsenic premier minister.

The Premier League nine has made 2 seats disposable to the premier curate successful the firm country of Emirates Stadium.

He said helium had been advised it would outgo the payer much successful information costs to usage his mean seat.

He would "rather beryllium successful the stands", but accepting a firm summons was a "perfectly sensible arrangement", helium added.

On Wednesday, the BBC disclosed that Ms Gray received a wage emergence aft the election, lifting her wage to £170,000 a twelvemonth - astir £3,000 much than the PM.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds dismissed suggestions the premier curate had personally intervened to summation Ms Gray's salary, saying ministers had "no input" successful what their advisers were paid.

"There’s a process that exists, it’s a civilian work process, it hasn’t changed. It’s incorrect to accidental there’s immoderate benignant of governmental input successful determination oregon radical acceptable their ain wage bands.

"I don’t adjacent get to acceptable the wage for my ain advisers... I deliberation determination are and ever person been officials who are paid much than politicians successful our strategy and that hasn’t changed," helium told BBC Breakfast.

Mr Reynolds acknowledged that leaks astir issues successful authorities specified arsenic Ms Gray’s wage were “annoying” and "a imperishable frustration".

Mr Reynolds besides told Sky News that Ms Gray was "getting connected with the occupation of this government, delivering connected our promises, I deliberation that's what matters much than thing other for anyone who works successful Downing Street".

Speaking connected Wednesday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC: “We’re precise fortunate to person Sue."

The assignment of Ms Gray, a erstwhile elder civilian servant whose report into Covid lockdown parties successful Downing Street contributed to the downfall of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to Sir Keir's squad past twelvemonth was controversial.

In caller weeks, she has been the taxable of a bid of reports of mounting acrimony astatine the bosom of the caller government, involving Ms Gray, Labour's manager of governmental strategy Morgan McSweeney and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

Over the weekend, Sir Keir played down these stories, saying "most of them are wildly wrong".

The Conservatives person asked whether the premier curate personally signed disconnected Ms Gray's caller wage and an summation successful the headdress connected the highest wage band.

They person besides asked whether a peculiar advisor remuneration committee inactive exists and if Ms Gray is simply a member, arsenic good arsenic what relation she played successful mounting her ain wage and changing wage bands.

Shadow Commons person Chris Philp told the BBC: "The premier minister's main of unit is getting an tremendous wage rise. At the aforesaid clip this Labour authorities is slashing wintertime substance payments for pensioners earning fractional the level of the minimum wage.

"It's wage rises for Labour cronies and cuts for hard-pressed pensioners."

Guto Harri, a erstwhile Downing Street manager of communications nether Boris Johnson, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley that being paid much than your brag astatine No 10 was "basically a no-no".

"If you judge a occupation astatine the bosom of No 10, immoderate you're worth, immoderate you're earning before, it's not a bully look to inquire for much than the premier minister," helium said.