Starmer has ‘no input’ on Sue Gray’s pay, Cabinet minister suggests

The Business Secretary stated that ministers do not have any influence over the salaries of their advisors, as he supported Sir Keir Starmer in response to the backlash regarding his chief of staff's £170,000 pay.

Jonathan Reynolds mentioned that there has been a “long-established procedure” in place for deciding salaries for aides and rejected claims that the Prime Minister had gotten involved to boost Sue Gray’s salary.

Reports that Ms. Gray received a salary increase following the election, putting her earnings higher than those of Sir Keir, have ignited a controversy within the government. This has led opposition critics to call for clarity on how this decision came about.

Mr. Reynolds shared with Sky News, “I believe it’s essential for people to realize that the salary ranges for officials and advisers are not determined by politicians. There is a formal procedure in place for that.”

"For example, I don’t have the ability to determine the salaries of my advisors who are employed directly by me. There’s a system in place, and we don’t have any influence from the political side when it comes to that."

He said, "Sue Gray is focused on helping the government fulfill its commitments. I believe that's the most important thing for everyone involved in Downing Street, and I can guarantee that is precisely what is taking place."

When asked if Sir Keir took any action to raise Ms. Gray's salary, Mr. Reynolds replied, "There’s a established procedure for these matters. It's something that everyone is aware of, has been in place for a long time, and remains unchanged. This is the way salary ranges are determined for any advisor."

The hiring of Ms. Gray, a former high-ranking government official whose findings about parties held in Downing Street during the lockdown played a key role in the resignation of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has stirred up quite a bit of debate within Sir Keir's team.

The BBC's coverage of her salary adds to a series of unfavorable reports about the aide and raises concerns about growing tension within the new Government regarding her compensation.

This week, Downing Street refuted claims that there was a "nest of vipers" operating behind the scenes in Sir Keir's administration. This denial followed reports of conflicts among senior staff, particularly involving Ms. Gray and political strategy director Morgan McSweeney.

During the weekend, Sir Keir aimed to downplay the speculation surrounding Ms. Gray, stating: "I won’t discuss her behind her back, and I won't comment on individual staff members, whether it's Sue Gray or anyone else."

"All I can say about the narratives is that many of them are incredibly inaccurate."

The BBC reported that several sources from Whitehall informed them about Ms. Gray’s pay raise, which puts her earnings at roughly £3,000 higher than Sir Keir’s salary. Sir Keir receives around £167,000 from his roles as an MP and Prime Minister.

According to the BBC, Sir Keir approved a new pay structure for special advisers soon after he assumed his role in July.

This is not shown in the latest public report on special adviser salaries and pay scales, which was released in July 2023.

The attention on Ms. Gray's salary comes at an inconvenient moment for the Prime Minister, as it quickly follows a separate controversy regarding him and his wife's acceptance of extravagant gifts from well-known Labour supporter and peer Lord Alli.

In a conversation with reporters on Thursday, Mr. Reynolds maintained that he believes it’s perfectly fine for ministers to have some time to unwind as part of their responsibilities.

Following news that Sir Keir has accepted £100,000 worth of gifts from supporters—more than any other recent prime minister—a Cabinet minister claimed that it isn't a benefit.

Mr. Reynolds explained to Times Radio, "It's not just an added benefit of the role; it's an essential aspect of it. People want to connect with those who make decisions. They want to make sure you understand what they are doing."

"Once again, I believe we have appropriate guidelines for transparency regarding this matter. However, it's important to focus on our work and the necessity of being involved with the industries we oversee."

He mentioned that he had been working almost nonstop since he took on the role of secretary of state, and he isn’t opposed to people taking some time to relax amidst all that.