Sue Gray, Baroness Gray of Tottenham

Susan Gray, Baroness Gray of Tottenham
Born	1957 North London, England
Occupation(s)	Civil servant, political adviser
Years active	Late 1990s–present
Known for	Downing Street Chief of Staff (2024), Second Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office (2021–2023), Partygate investigation lead

Susan Ann Gray, Baroness Gray of Tottenham, born in 1957, is a British former civil servant and special adviser who occupied the position of Downing Street Chief of Staff under Prime Minister Keir Starmer from July until October 2024. Prior to this, she was Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition between 2023 and 2024.

Between May 2021 and March 2023, Gray held the post of Second Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, reporting directly to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Her investigation into the Partygate controversy critically examined Boris Johnson’s administration and played a role in his resignation as Prime Minister in September 2022, followed by his exit from Parliament in June 2023.

Gray left the Civil Service in March 2023 to assume the role of Chief of Staff for Keir Starmer. Her appointment generated debate, with a Cabinet Office inquiry determining that she breached Civil Service regulations. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) later endorsed her transition to working with the Labour Party starting September 2023. After Starmer became Prime Minister in 2024, Gray was named Downing Street Chief of Staff but stepped down after four months amid significant public attention. Subsequently, she was announced as Envoy to the Prime Minister for the Nations and Regions, although by November 2024 it was confirmed she would not take up this position.

Early life and background

Gray was born in North London in 1957 to Irish immigrant parents who settled in Tottenham during the early 1950s; her father worked as a furniture salesman while her mother was employed as a barmaid. She attended a state-funded Roman Catholic school. Following her father’s unexpected death in 1975, Gray abandoned plans for university and entered the Civil Service directly after finishing school. Her mother later died by suicide.

During the 1980s, Gray paused her career to manage the Cove Bar, a pub located in Newry, Northern Ireland, alongside her husband Bill Conlon, a country music artist. This period coincided with The Troubles and presented considerable challenges; on one occasion she was stopped by IRA paramilitaries but allowed to proceed due to her local familiarity. Although there were rumours suggesting involvement in intelligence activities, she has denied these claims.

The family relocated back to London in 1987. Gray continues to maintain close connections with Northern Ireland and frequently visits with her husband. She has two sons, one of whom is Liam Conlon, chair of the Labour Party Irish Society and Member of Parliament for Beckenham and Penge.

Cabinet Office

Gray began working at the Cabinet Office in the late 1990s following previous roles within the departments of Health, Transport, and Work and Pensions. From 2012 onwards, she served as director-general overseeing the Propriety and Ethics team as well as leading the Private Offices Group, reporting directly to the Cabinet Secretary. This role provided her with extensive responsibility over ministerial offices, public appointments, and government ethical standards. She frequently handled delicate issues and crises, earning a reputation by 2017 as "the woman who runs the country."

In recognition of her leadership in government propriety and ethics within the Cabinet Office, Gray was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) during the 2007 New Year Honours.

In 2011, she advised Michael Gove that using private email accounts for official government communication would place such correspondence outside transparency regulations. This interpretation was later overturned by the Information Commissioner, who confirmed that these emails fall under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.

Her duties also encompassed managing reforms to non-departmental public bodies during UK quango restructuring efforts in 2010.

Gray led several prominent investigations into ministerial behaviour, including the 2012 inquiry into Andrew Mitchell amid the 'Plebgate' incident, which contributed to his resignation as Chief Whip. In 2017, she conducted an investigation into allegations against Damian Green, then serving as First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office. Following accusations involving sexual harassment and misuse of office computers, Green was removed from ministerial positions but retained his seat as an MP.

Northern Ireland Executive

In January 2018, the Northern Ireland Executive revealed that Gray would join the Northern Ireland Civil Service as the Permanent secretary of the Department of Finance starting May 2018. By April 2018, Helen MacNamara had succeeded Gray at the Cabinet Office.

Gray attempted to become head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 2020 but was unsuccessful. She later told the BBC that she was viewed as "too much of a challenger, or a disrupter."

Return to the Cabinet Office

Gray returned to Whitehall in May 2021 as Second Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, responsible for policy relating to the Union and constitutional matters. She reported to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, initially Michael Gove, who was succeeded by Steve Barclay in September 2021.

Partygate

In December 2021, amid revelations of gatherings held at government locations during COVID-19 restrictions—commonly referred to as "Partygate"—Cabinet Secretary Simon Case initiated an investigation but stepped aside after an event was uncovered in his own office. Gray then assumed leadership of the inquiry.

The review focused on whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson was aware of or involved in these events. Gray’s preliminary report, released on 31 January 2022, criticized a "serious failure" in leadership standards and labeled several gatherings as "difficult to justify" given public health rules. The full report’s release was postponed pending a Metropolitan Police investigation, which by May 2022 had issued 126 fixed penalty notices.

Gray submitted her final report to Johnson on 25 May 2022; it was published later that day. The document highlighted a culture of lockdown violations and faulted No 10 leadership. A The Guardian article from December 2022 reported that Gray had been left "bruised" by her involvement in the investigation.

Departure from the Civil Service

In March 2023, Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, contemplated appointing Gray as his chief of staff. Subsequently, Gray resigned from her position as Cabinet Office Second Permanent Secretary and exited the Civil Service. She commenced her role as Starmer’s chief of staff on 4 September 2023 and officially joined the Labour Party in November 2023.

Her appointment required clearance from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and approval by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who held veto power over such moves. This marked Gray’s initial engagement in party-political work.

Following her resignation and transition to Labour, some Conservative MPs voiced criticism: MP Alex Stafford argued that her new role "undermines the work she's done and the civil service," while Nadine Dorries questioned her neutrality as author of the Partygate report. On the other hand, former minister Francis Maude defended her professionalism and impartiality, and ex-civil service chief Bob Kerslake pointed out that comparable appointments had occurred under earlier governments, referencing chiefs of staff such as Jonathan Powell and Ed Llewellyn.

In June 2023, the Advisory Committee recommended a six-month interval following Gray’s resignation before she could begin working with Labour, permitting a September 2023 start date. However, a July 2023 Cabinet Office inquiry concluded that Gray breached civil service rules by discussing her forthcoming role with Labour prior to leaving her post.

Downing Street Chief of Staff

Following the Labour Party's triumph in the 2024 general election and Keir Starmer's ascent to Prime Minister, Gray was appointed as Downing Street Chief of Staff. The Guardian reported that she exercised a "micromanagerial" approach, exerting considerable influence over the selection of ministers and special advisers, alongside exclusive control over Starmer’s schedule. These assertions were contested amid contradictory statements from supporters of both Gray and Morgan McSweeney.

Gray's salary was £170,000, surpassing that of the Prime Minister and every cabinet minister. She resigned on 6 October 2024, citing that the heightened scrutiny surrounding her position threatened to divert attention from governmental priorities. Shortly after stepping down, she was named Envoy to the Prime Minister for the Nations and Regions, but by November 2024 it was confirmed she would not assume this role.

House of Lords

In December 2024, Prime Minister Starmer put forward Gray’s nomination for a life peerage in the House of Lords representing the Labour Party. She was formally created Baroness Gray of Tottenham on 4 February 2025.

Gray gave her inaugural speech on 27 March 2025, reflecting on her extensive Civil Service tenure and expressing gratitude toward individuals including former Prime Minister Theresa May. She issued a warning to Starmer concerning proposed reductions within the Civil Service and called on politicians to refrain from using disparaging language about civil servants.

Reputation

Gray has been characterized as a largely unseen yet highly powerful figure and described as "an enigma." In 2015, BBC policy editor Chris Cook remarked that she was "notorious… for her determination not to leave a document trail," advising special advisers on deleting emails and intervening to prevent disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown commended her for offering "wise advice" during times of crisis.

Rajeev Syal from The Guardian labeled her "an uncompromising operator." Political commentator Andrew Gimson noted her loyalty to the permanent government and what he termed the "deep state," while ex-cabinet minister Oliver Letwin remarked, "Unless she agrees, things just don't happen," emphasizing her decisive role in cabinet reshuffles and departmental reorganizations.

After her appointment as Starmer’s chief of staff in 2023, Gray was ranked seventh in the New Statesman list highlighting the most influential individuals shaping progressive politics in Britain.

External links

• Sue Gray – Episode of Profile on BBC Radio 4
• Report by Second Permanent Secretary into Alleged Gatherings on Government Premises during Covid Restrictions, 25 May 2022