Sir Keir Starmer left red-faced as former aide Sue Gray confirms she will not continue working for him

SIR Keir Starmer was left red-faced yesterday as his former top aide Sue Gray confirmed she will not continue working for him.

The ex-chief of staff, who was sacked after less than 100 days in the role, was offered the consolation prize of being the PM’s “envoy for the regions and nations”.

But after five weeks of weighing it up, Ms Gray let it be known she was not interested in the job.

Sources said the former partygate inquisitor had been warned the Prime Minister was planning to withdraw his offer due to fears her high-profile presence would draw too much media scrutiny.

One of her allies told the Financial Times: “Sue has taken a decision not to take the role. She’s going to focus on other things.

"She’s taken time to think about it properly, talking to stakeholders, but ultimately she’s decided she doesn’t want to do it.”

Asked whether the job was pulled or if Ms Gray walked away, a No10 spokeswoman said: “The appointment had been agreed and you had the focus for the new role and the original statements from both the Prime Minister and Sue Gray.

“Subsequent to that, we confirmed that she was taking a break between roles and taking up duties and, as I said, I can update that she has since decided not to take up the role.”

Downing Street refused to say whether she would be offered a peerage, instead.

Ms Gray quit as the PM’s chief of staff after a series of damaging leaks and scrutiny over her management style, which had sparked internal divisions and criticism of Labour’s preparedness for power.