Starmer defends Sue Gray after reports of No 10 rifts

Sir Keir Starmer said “most” of the stories astir his main of unit Sue Gray are “wildly wrong”, aft reports of rifts successful No 10.

Gray has been the taxable of galore paper stories since Labour entered government, including claims she has a fractious narration with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and strategy main Morgan McSweeney.

Case is the UK’s astir elder civilian servant. McSweeney masterminded Labour’s palmy wide predetermination campaign.

A elder authorities root has told the BBC the claims are “completely and utterly overblown” and “Sue is moving with teams passim civilian work and acts with thing but professionalism”.

Another wrong authorities said of Gray’s leadership: “However atrocious you deliberation it is, it’s worse.”

When asked by reporters if Gray had “become the story”, Sir Keir responded: “I’m not going to speech down her backmost and I’m not going to speech astir idiosyncratic members of staff, whether it’s Sue Gray oregon immoderate different subordinate of staff.

“All I tin accidental astir the stories is astir of them are wildly wrong.”

Gray controversially joined Labour arsenic the leader’s apical adjutant past twelvemonth aft much than 30 years successful the civilian service.

She was thrust into the nationalist spotlight successful 2022 erstwhile she led an probe into gatherings successful authorities offices during the Covid-19 pandemic, portion Boris Johnson was premier minister.

Her study recovered unit attended events connected aggregate occasions portion the remainder of the UK was successful lockdown, and partially blamed the enactment successful Downing Street.

Johnson faced calls to resign pursuing the report, which contributed to the Tory disquiet that led to his downfall arsenic premier minister.

Some Tories had expressed choler that Gray was offered a occupation arsenic the Labour leader's main of staff, arguing it undermined the impartiality of her enquiry into lockdown-breaking parties.