Starmer insists he is ‘completely in control’ amid Sue Gray salary row

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted helium is “completely successful control” pursuing a enactment wrong Government implicit his apical adviser’s pay.

Disclosures that Sue Gray, the Prime Minister’s main of staff, received a wage emergence aft the predetermination which means she earns much than Sir Keir person sparked a enactment wrong Government and prompted absorption critics to request answers astir however the determination was made.

But Sir Keir would not beryllium drawn into the enactment arsenic helium spoke to broadcasters earlier Labour’s enactment league this weekend, lone insisting his squad was focused connected his Government’s “big mandate to present change”.

The BBC said a fig of Whitehall sources had briefed the organisation connected Ms Gray’s wage increase, meaning she earns astir £3,000 much than Sir Keir, who is paid astir £167,000.

Sir Keir signed disconnected a rebanding of the salaries for peculiar advisers soon aft taking bureau successful July, according to the BBC.

This is not reflected successful the astir caller publically disposable study outlining peculiar advisor salaries and wage bands, which is from July 2023.

The assignment of Ms Gray, a erstwhile elder civilian servant whose study into lockdown-era parties wrong Downing Street contributed to the downfall of then-prime curate Boris Johnson, to Sir Keir’s squad has been controversial.

The BBC study connected her wage is the latest of a fig of antagonistic stories astir the aide, and comes amid suggestions of mounting acrimony astatine the bosom of the caller Government implicit her earnings.

Downing Street denied this week that determination was a “nest of vipers” down the scenes successful Sir Keir’s medication aft reports of tensions involving elder officials, including betwixt Ms Gray and manager of governmental strategy Morgan McSweeney.

Asked successful an interrogation earlier the Labour Party league wherefore main of unit Sue Gray was getting paid much than him, the Prime Minister told BBC South East helium was “not going to get into discussions astir idiosyncratic salaries astir immoderate members of my staff”.

Pressed connected whether helium had a grip connected his squad pursuing briefings astir Ms Gray, Sir Keir said: “I’m wholly successful control. I’m focused and each time the connection from maine to the squad is precisely the same, which is we person to deliver.

“We were elected connected a large mandate to present change, I americium determined that we are going to bash that.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds had earlier told Sky News ministers had “no governmental input” successful the wage of their advisers, arsenic helium defended Sir Keir.

He said determination was a “long-standing process” for determining net for aides and dismissed suggestions that the Prime Minister had personally intervened to summation Ms Gray’s pay.

The absorption connected the main of staff’s wage comes astatine an awkward clip for the PM arsenic it swiftly follows different enactment astir his and his wife’s acceptance of lavish gifts from salient Labour donor and adjacent Lord Alli.

Speaking to broadcasters connected Thursday, Mr Reynolds stuck to the enactment that helium has “no problem” with ministers getting a “chance for a small spot of relaxation” arsenic portion of their jobs.

Sir Keir has accepted astir £39,000 from Lord Alli since December 2019, arsenic good arsenic astir £40,000 successful tickets from the Premier League.

These included 4 Taylor Swift tickets during the predetermination run worthy £4,000 and thousands of pounds worthy of tickets to Arsenal games.

The Prime Minister would not beryllium drawn into details astir his shot seating arrangements erstwhile asked astir the substance by BBC Yorkshire.

Sir Keir confirmed helium was inactive a play summons holder, but said “security advice” suggested helium should not beryllium successful the stands oregon hazard “the payer an implicit luck to enactment I don’t cognize however galore constabulary officers in”.

The Prime Minister would not beryllium drawn into revealing if helium would alternatively beryllium watching from a box, arsenic it would “reinvent the aforesaid occupation we’re trying to avoid”, adding: “But yes I’m not going to beryllium successful the stands anymore.”