Keir Starmer faces awkward questions in Commons over secret talks to poach Sue Gray
SIR Keir Starmer risks turning from “Sir Softie to Sir Shifty” over his attempt to poach Whitehall inquisitor Sue Gray, it was claimed earlier today.
The Labour leader faces awkward questions in the Commons on Tuesday about his secret talks with the top civil servant he wants as his chief of staff.
The Partygate investigator resigned in March after news of Sir Keir’s overtures leaked.
Ministers believe Ms Gray broke strict Whitehall probity rules by holding secret talks with Labour while serving at the top of government.
And Sir Keir — who is a stickler for doing things by the book and even calls himself Mr Rules — faces the embarrassment of having his aspiring right-hand woman fall foul of the Civil Service code.
A Cabinet Office probe into the affair will report back to MPs this week.
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The House of Commons order paper for Tuesday enigmatically reads: “Update into the circumstances leading to the resignation of a senior civil servant.”
One Tory source said: “We know he’s Sir Softie on crime and borders, but if he tries to ignore this he will also be Sir Shifty.”
There has also been widespread disquiet amongst senior civil servants that Ms Gray’s behaviour has left the whole Civil Service open to serious claims of bias.
A Whitehall source said: “If Sue is found to have broken the Civil Service code, Mr Rules would be hiring a rule-breaking chief of staff.
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“He’s completely screwed Sue.”
Ms Gray is currently on gardening leave and awaiting the findings of a separate probe from the Whitehall appointments body, ACOBA.