Baroness Sue Gray, who previously served as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, has voiced deep concerns about the future of Northern Ireland's devolved government at Stormont. Speaking at an event organised by the SDLP in Belfast on Thursday, the Labour peer called for enhanced cooperation between Whitehall and devolved administrations across the UK.
Background and Role in Government
Gray, a former senior civil servant in both Whitehall and Northern Ireland, authored the partygate investigation report into Downing Street gatherings during Covid lockdowns under the last Conservative government. She later became a key member of Starmer's team when he became Prime Minister but resigned as chief of staff in October 2024 amid reports of infighting and controversy over her salary. She was elevated to the House of Lords four months later.
During her time as permanent secretary at Stormont's Department of Finance, Gray experienced first-hand the challenges of intergovernmental relations. She noted that colleagues in the UK government often did not involve her in policy discussions until the morning of an announcement, sometimes with attached funding. "How that could have been so different if the devolved government had sat round that table and had contributed to that discussion," she said, emphasising the need for more inclusive policymaking.
Call for Metro Mayors and Decentralisation
Gray advocated for introducing a "metro mayor" model across devolved regions to empower city authorities. Specifically for Northern Ireland, she suggested creating metro mayors for Belfast and Londonderry. She also voiced support for Andy Burnham's reported plan to move part of the Downing Street operation to Manchester if he becomes prime minister, calling it "a really powerful signal" to government departments that everything does not have to happen in Whitehall and London.
Concerns for Stormont and Future Leadership
Gray expressed direct apprehension about the current functioning of devolved government at Stormont: "I do fear for Stormont, and I do think that people here deserve action and decisions, and that is a joint responsibility across many people." She also addressed the potential succession of Sir Keir Starmer, expressing hope that Andy Burnham would be equipped to see off the challenge posed by Reform UK. "If Andy is the successor, I think that his experience, not just in working in Manchester, he's also worked in Whitehall previously and held Secretary of State positions, so he can bring a lot of experience to the fore," she told the event at the MAC in Belfast.
