Keir Starmer’s ousted former top aide Sue Gray has delayed starting her new job this week, amid claims she is demanding a better severance package and salary.
Ms Gray, the former senior civil servant, was forced out of her role as chief of staff at the weekend and into a new role as the Prime Minister’s ‘envoy for nations and regions’.
No10 will not say if she will attend the first meeting of the PM’s Council of the Nations and Regions in Scotland tomorrow in her new role. But it is understood that she will miss it as she takes a break between jobs.
Ms Gray is reportedly demanding a better severance package from her former £170,000 role, and a better salary in her new job, according to the Guido Fawkes website.
Downing Street sources admitted there were ‘things to work through’ in deciding on the final details of Ms Gray’s new role.
Sir Keir set up the new council after winning the election. It will involve the first ministers of the three devolved administrations, plus the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and directly elected regional mayors in England.
The new body will take the place of joint ministerial councils, which previously operated and brought ministers from Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast together with UK Government ministers.
But No10 refused to confirm whether or not Ms Gray would be attending tomorrow’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in Scotland tomorrow.
The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘I’ve set out the ministerial attendees, the mayors, the first ministers that will be attending bu I’m not going to provide more commentary on other attendees.’
Asked if Ms Gray had definitely accepted her new envoy role, the spokesman added: ‘You’ve seen the statement that was announced appointing her on Sunday, there’s no change to that position.
‘But I’m just not getting into detailed staffing attendance matters ahead of meetings. We’ve set out the ministers that will be attending tomorrow.’