Sir Keir defends aide’s £170k salary amid controversy
PM criticised negative briefings, defends Sue Gray's taxpayer-funded £170k salary
Sir Keir Starmer has stated that Sue Gray’s taxpayer-funded salary should not be a matter of public debate. The Prime Minister criticised the increasing negative briefings about his Chief of Staff, saying they were unhelpful.
Last week, it was revealed that Gray earns £170,000 annually, £3,000 more than the Prime Minister’s own salary, sparking discontent among advisers facing pay cuts.
During his visit to New York, the PM was interviewed by the BBC. He was asked if he would address the leaks about Ms Gray or her position itself. He responded, “I’m not going to discuss individual members of staff, whoever they are, any name of the staff you could have put to me in this interview, and I’d have the same answer to you.”
The arrogance of @Keir_Starmer is breathtaking – he claims to run a “government of service” yet says the public shouldn’t be able to debate the £170,000 salary of his chief of staff, which they pay https://t.co/dBYP9fBCrE
— David Jack (@DJack_Journo) September 25, 2024
He added, “I don’t believe that my staff should be the subject of public debate like this, and I’m not going to play any part in it.” When asked about discontent within No 10 and his responsibility to manage it, Sir Keir acknowledged that briefings were detrimental to the government. He emphasised his focus on improving the country and took responsibility for managing briefings.
He mentioned, “It’s my job to deal with briefings, and I take responsibility for that. But, you know, I get up every day to ensure that we’re delivering the change that we’re elected into government to deliver as does every member of the cabinet.”
Regarding who controls the Government, Sir Keir stated that strong Cabinet decisions are the norm. He mentioned his close working relationship with the Chancellor, highlighting their shared strategy and approach.
Ms Gray accompanied the Prime Minister to the UN Security Council and was with him at the White House for talks with President Joe Biden earlier this month. However, she did not attend the Labour party conference in Liverpool following the controversy over her salary and influence.
The leak about Ms Gray’s salary came from Downing Street sources. They also accused her of becoming increasingly grand and acting as the sole conduit to the PM. One source suggested she should have accepted a slightly lower salary to avoid controversy, which she declined.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson clarified that political appointees do not decide their own pay bands or salaries. They stated that decisions on special adviser pay are made by officials, not political appointees, and special advisers cannot authorise public expenditure or manage budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why is Sue Gray’s salary causing controversy?
Her salary of £170,000 is higher than the PM’s, causing anger among advisers who had to accept pay cuts.
What is Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on discussing Sue Gray’s salary publicly?
He believes it should not be a topic of public debate and refuses to discuss individual staff members.
Are there negative briefings about Sue Gray?
Yes, there are growing negative briefings about her, which the PM says are ‘not helpful’ to the government.
Who is accused of acting as the only conduit for access to the PM?
Sue Gray is accused of acting ‘increasingly grand’ and as the only conduit for access to the PM.
Did Sue Gray attend the Labour party conference in Liverpool?
No, she did not attend the conference in the wake of the row over her salary and influence.
