Sue Gray ‘set to become Keir Starmer’s chief of staff in months’ despite Tory fury

Sue Gray is set to take up the role of Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff this autumn despite Tory fury.

Whitehall’s appointments watchdog is reportedly recommending the partygate investigator could start the job just six months after her civil service departure.

Ms Gray left her high-ranking position as second permanent secretary to the Cabinet Office in March for the senior Labour role.

The move angered Conservative MPs who claimed her switch to the Opposition party called the civil service’s neutrality into question.

The Government wanted to bar Ms Gray from working for Labour for a year, with a further six months of restrictions.

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The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) has been carrying out a review of Ms Gray’s exit.

It has recommended Ms Gray should take just six months’ gardening leave, The Times reports.

The Civil Service Code stipulates that officials of Ms Gray’s seniority must wait a minimum of three months before taking up outside employment.

Acoba could recommend a longer wait to avoid any conflict of interest, with a maximum delay of up to two years.

Labour has pledged to abide by any Acoba recommendation.

Sir Keir is thought to want Ms Gray in place to help ready his party for power should he win the next general election, which is widely expected to be held next year.

Labour has insisted it is confident no rules were broken over her decision to take the job after her independent report into the partygate saga contributed to Mr Johnson being forced out of Downing Street last year.