Sue Gray has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, saying that “intense commentary” around her position had become a “distraction”. The special adviser became a household name in 2022 when she headed a report into the Partygate scandal, criticising Boris Johnson and the Conservative government of the time.

It was back in June 2020 when Sir Keir Starmer first declared that Boris Johnson must “get a grip” on Downing Street. Until that moment, Sir Keir had attempted to give the government the benefit of the doubt on its handling of the Covid pandemic.

Waiting for Sue Gray’ became something of a mantra for many politicians towards the end of Boris Johnson’s time in the top job. Then working as a senior civil servant, Sue Gray’s findings on Partygate were hugely anticipated and,