A Cabinet Office investigation has concluded that Sue Gray, the former senior civil servant, apparently breached the civil service code by discussing a potential role with Labour leader Keir Starmer without informing her Whitehall superiors. The finding, described as a 'prima facie' breach, has sparked a fierce response from Gray's allies, who have labelled the inquiry as arbitrary and politically motivated.
According to a written ministerial statement from Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin, Gray was approached by Starmer in October 2022 about a possible role as his chief of staff. She informed the Cabinet Office of the discussions in March 2023, after news of the potential appointment became public, and subsequently resigned to take up the position. Quin stated that the rules require individuals to declare all relevant outside interests to their line manager as soon as they arise.
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) had previously stated it found no evidence that Gray breached the code, but noted that the final decision rested with the government. A Whitehall source revealed that the Cabinet Office had advised against making the finding public, citing confidentiality in staffing matters, but ministers made a political decision to release the information.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union representing senior officials, criticised the investigation's lack of transparency. In a letter to Gray's former line manager Sarah Healey, Penman said the union had repeatedly sought details about the process, decision-maker, and appeal mechanism without success. He accused ministers of extending the inquiry's remit beyond what was originally promised.
Former Treasury solicitor Jonathan Jones questioned the application of the rules, noting that the alleged breach concerns informal, personal contacts rather than government business. He highlighted that Acoba had approved the appointment and found no evidence of impartiality being compromised. A Labour spokesperson dismissed the announcement as 'a political stunt' and a 'Mickey Mouse nonsense' distraction from other controversies.
