Sue Gray: No 10 environment ‘unbearable’ amid leak fears
Former chief of staff claims conversations were recorded and leaked, citing a lack of senior experience in key government roles.
Former Downing Street chief of staff Sue Gray has described her tenure under Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “unbearable,” attributing the difficulty to fears that her conversations were being recorded and leaked to the media by colleagues. In an interview with the Political Currency podcast, Gray provided a detailed account of the tensions within the early days of the government’s operation, highlighting what she characterised as a “boys’ club” culture in No 10.
Gray, who resigned from the position in 2024 after serving for four months, expressed disappointment that Prime Minister Starmer did not take sufficient action on her concerns regarding staff briefing journalists against her. She stated that while she had raised the issue with the Prime Minister on multiple occasions, she felt that not enough was done to address the environment. “I was disappointed that not more was done because I think it could have been done,” she said, noting that the atmosphere significantly affected her personal life.
The former chief of staff also clarified a specific incident involving Morgan McSweeney, who replaced her in the role before later resigning over his involvement in the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Gray explained that a report suggesting she tried to move McSweeney further from the Prime Minister was actually a request to find a more suitable room for a group of staff. She emphasised that as a former civil servant, she expected to be able to speak freely in rooms, a standard she felt was compromised during her time in office.
Gray’s comments mark the second instance in recent weeks where a senior woman from Starmer’s administration has publicly expressed frustration with his leadership. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper recently gave an interview to the same podcast, accusing No 10 of sidelining her during the launch of a key immigration policy. These disclosures come amid a period of significant staff churn in Downing Street, with Starmer having previously admitted he was wrong to appoint Gray, despite her experience as the lead of the Partygate inquiry.
While some former advisers have disputed Gray’s characterisation of the workplace culture, describing her concerns as “paranoia” and denying the existence of a “boys’ club” narrative before her arrival, Gray maintained her position. She argued that the government lacked sufficient senior experience in key areas, stating that “we needed bigger people, people with bigger experience to be heads of, whether it was comms or policy or strategy.”
Gray, who is now a Labour peer, said she is enjoying life outside government and is “taking part in many aspects of public life,” though she did not rule out future roles. Her assessment of the early government period offers a critical perspective on the institutional challenges faced during the transition from opposition to power, particularly regarding the management of communications and internal dynamics.
