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Sir Keir Starmer should find the source of leaks about Sue Grey and “publicly fire them”, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives has said.
Ruth Davidson, co-host of Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction, told a live event of the podcast that Downing Street’s political advisers need to be “read the riot act” and reminded that “journalists are not your friends”.
Politics Live: Cabinet minister says Labour wants 25 years in power
During the discussion, former Labour MP turned peer Harriet Harman also suggested the attacks on the prime minister’s chief of staff could be fuelled by sexism.
Baroness Harman said: “There is something about an older woman in authority that some young men find hard to face.”
Ms Gray, whose report in parties at Downing Street during the pandemic contributed to the downfall of Boris Johnson, has found herself at the centre of hostile briefings just as Labour convenes the party faithful for its annual conference in Liverpool – the first one they’ve held while in government for 15 years.
The row erupted on Wednesday when it was reported she received a pay rise after the general election which apparently took her salary above the prime minister’s annual earnings of £167,000.
In an apparent attempt to damage her politically, it was leaked to the BBC that Ms Gray now earns £170,000 and junior staff are disgruntled about it as some of them are being paid less than what they received when Labour was in opposition – despite now occupying more senior government roles.
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