Sue Gray ‘breached civil service code’ over Keir
Starmer job, inquiry finds
Civil inquiry found Gray’s talks over role without
telling bosses was ‘prima facie’ breach of code
Rowena
Mason Whitehall editor
Mon 3 Jul
2023 11.00 BST
Sue Gray
was found to have apparently breached the civil service code by discussing a
role with Keir Starmer without telling her Whitehall bosses, a Cabinet Office
investigation has found.
Jeremy
Quinn, a Cabinet Office minister, said a civil inquiry found a “prima facie”
breach of the code about outside interests to be clear and transparent –
meaning an apparent contravention of the rules based on first impressions.
Gray was
approached by Starmer about a possible role in October 2022 and had a
conversation about it on the phone. She told the Cabinet Office about this in
March 2023 when it became public that she might be offered a job as Starmer’s
chief of staff, and subsequently resigned on deciding to take the position.
Last week,
the advisory committee on business appointments (Acoba) said it had been given
no evidence that Gray breached the code, although this was a matter for the
government to decide.
Quin said
in a written ministerial statement on Monday that the civil service findings
suggested a breach had occurred. He said individuals must declare all relevant
outside interests to their line manager as soon as they arise.
The policy
advises that individuals “should err on the side of caution when considering
what to declare but the onus is on the individual to consider what might be
relevant and declare it”.
A Whitehall
source said the Cabinet Office had advised against making public the finding
that Gray had breached the code because staffing matters should be kept
confidential, but that ministers had made a political decision to put it in the
public domain.
In his
statement, Quin said: “It is right that we maintain the principle of
confidentiality with respect to individual personnel matters. However, I am
sure the house will agree with me that the facts in this case, when compared to
the rules and guidance in place for civil servants, speak for themselves, and
that there is a public interest in ensuring that the civil service code is
adhered to.”
He said
parliament was being informed “given the exceptional nature of this case and
the previous commitment by ministers to update the house”.
The Labour
party said in a statement: “All rules were complied with. The Acoba process
makes that clear.
“This
statement is a political stunt by a Tory government out of ideas and out of
road. It’s embarrassing. We’re looking forward to Sue Gray joining us this
September as we continue to show the country that only Labour can build a
better Britain.”
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