Sue Gray’s salary of £170,000 as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, surpassing that of the Prime Minister, has caused uproar among Labour colleagues. Despite concerns from other political special advisers who saw reductions in their own salaries, Gray received a pay rise after the election. One source suggested she could have taken a lower salary than the Prime Minister to avoid controversy, but she declined.
Gray’s leadership and management decisions have been criticized, with many advisers blaming her for restrictions on pay and conditions. Special advisers have unionized in response to the terms imposed by Gray, including three-month probation periods. The backlash among Labour advisers over Gray’s pay increase has sparked anger and frustration within the party.
Conservatives have seized on the news, with leadership contender Robert Jenrick accusing Starmer of hypocrisy for granting Gray a pay rise while other vulnerable groups face cuts. Gray’s salary is the highest ever received by a special adviser, surpassing the pay of her predecessor and senior officials in previous administrations.
Questions have been raised about who approved the increase in pay banding for the most senior special advisers, and Downing Street has denied claims of a “nest of vipers” within No 10 following tensions between Gray’s supporters and allies of McSweeney. While Starmer has downplayed the reports about Gray, critics remain frustrated with her handling of decision-making and access to the Prime Minister. Gray’s salary and management decisions continue to be a topic of controversy within the Labour Party.
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