War of words over Sue Gray as Labour hits back at 'dodgy' claim

'This does not pass the sniff test...it raises big questions for Starmer'

- David Bond

THE war of words over top civil servant Sue Gray escalated today as Labour rejected claims that her potential appointment as Sir Keir Starmer's new chief of staff was "dodgy".

Senior Conservatives have reacted furiously to the move by the Labour leader to hire Ms Gray, who headed the inquiry into lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street when Boris Johnson was prime minister.

Ms Gray quit as second permanent secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities yesterday. The bombshell offer from Labour is now being reviewed by Parliament's anti-corruption watchdog, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba).

It will advise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on whether the move is "unsuitable".

The possible appointment has sparked howls of disapproval from Conservatives who believe the PM should block it. Mr Johnson's former parliamentary aide, the Tory MP Alexander Stafford, said: "This really doesn't pass the sniff test, it really undermines the work that she's done, undermines the civil service and really puts in question Sir Keir's complete judgment." Another close ally of Mr Johnson, the Conservative peer and former party Treasurer Lord Marland, added on LBC that while he is a "great fan" of Ms Gray "we always knew she was a bit of a lefty".

"If I'm honest, I'm not sure this is very judicious," Lord Marland said.

But Labour's shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said it was "ludicrous" of Mr Johnson's allies to suggest the partygate scandal was manufactured to bring down the former prime minister.