Keir’s ‘year of talks’ to lure Boris inquisitor

THE Partygate investigator who triggered a row by applying for a job as Sir Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff was in negotiations with Labour for around a year, The Mail on Sunday has been told.

There was outcry when it was revealed earlier this month that Sue Gray, who conducted an inquiry into Boris Johnson’s behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic, would be switching to a party political role.

Officials speculated about whether the civil servant had been leaking Government information to Labour – something her friends categorically deny. Senior advisers to Sir Keir urged him to U-turn on the plan.

This newspaper has also established that on November 7 last year – when Ms Gray is understood to have been in discussions with Labour – she sent a letter to Harriet Harman, chairman of the Commons Privileges Committee which last week cross-examined Mr Johnson about whether he misled MPs over gatherings held in Downing Street during the Covid lockdowns.

In the letter, Ms Gray warned the committee that the identities of No 10 officials who gave evidence on Partygate should be kept confidential.

This appears to contradict claims made last week that Ms Gray had no dealings with the committee while in talks with Labour. The Guardian quoted Labour sources as saying that Ms Gray was not involved in advising on evidence for the committee.

Last night, a Government source said: ‘One of Sue Gray’s managers has told Cabinet Office officials that they believe secret contacts with Labour began well before last November [and] may have been going on for over 12 months. It all appears to have been done “off the books”.’ This is longer than previously thought.

Mr Johnson has also drawn up a rebuttal of some statements made in his cross-examination, including the claim that he saw more than one leaving party which broke the rules.

If Mr Johnson is suspended for ten days, a recall petition could be triggered, letting voters in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency decide whether to force a contest.

Sir Keir’s spokeswoman flatly denied that Ms Gray had been in talks with Labour for about a year, saying: ‘As is well documented and Keir has said, the chief of staff vacancy only arose in autumn 2022.’

A Labour source did not dispute that Ms Gray wrote a letter to Ms Harman but insisted it was with the approval of the Cabinet Office and Ministers.