Spokesperson fails to address questions over whether Gray resigned or was sacked as chief of staff or specify her salary for her new role

Sue Gray has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, saying that “intense commentary” around her position had become a “distraction”. The special adviser became a household name in 2022 when she headed a report into the Partygate scandal, criticising Boris Johnson and the Conservative government of the time.

Downing Street denied Keir Starmer has a “woman problem” after the departure of his most senior female aide. Sue Gray has been given a “vital” new role looking after the nations and regions, No 10 insisted after her sudden departure from the chief of staff role on Sunday.