Offended phrases within the backyard. Then Sue Grey stomped off with a face like thunder. Images that reveal depth of the acrimony in Downing Road, ANDREW PIERCE reviews

The stress is palpable, the physique language speaks volumes. These extraordinary images of a heated dialog within the Downing Road backyard seem to put naked the bitter feuding between Keir Starmer’s most senior officers.

Regardless of weeks of denials that there was a breakdown in relations between Sue Grey, Starmer’s highly effective however divisive chief of workers, and rival camps inside No 10, the images inform a special story.

They present Grey locked in tense talks with Michael Bourke, the Principal ­Personal Secretary to Cupboard Secretary Sir Simon Case.

Essentially the most senior civil servant within the land, Case is embroiled in an acrimonious turf struggle with Grey, who desires him to depart Downing Road.

In line with an eyewitness, the dialog was animated, usually intense, with each events gesticulating at one another. Grey did a lot of the speaking.

It’s mentioned that when she plans a tough dialog with colleagues – and apparently that’s most days – she likes it to happen within the small backyard between No 10 and No 9 Downing Road, the very spot the place she is ­pictured speaking to Bourke. 

When the indignant exchanges through the current confrontation got here to an finish, Grey stomped off with a face like ­thunder. Bourke, clutching a vape, was left rubbing his eyes. Was he emotional? Or was it smoke from the vape? One authoritative supply who noticed the entire episode mentioned: ‘It was clearly a really tough ­dialog for each of them. Sue Grey was very indignant about one thing. Once more.’

A Cupboard Workplace spokesman referred to as claims of a row ‘categorically unfaithful’ final night time.

The pictures have been taken simply days earlier than the astonishing BBC revelation that Grey is being paid £170,000 – extra even than the Prime Minister on £167,000.

One supply advised the BBC that Grey had refused to just accept a couple of thousand kilos much less when it was steered to her that, by doing so, she would keep away from exactly the sort of row now going down.

The very fact she is getting greater than her boss has outraged dozens of ministerial particular advisers (Spads) – political appointees paid for by the taxpayer – not least as a result of Grey has reportedly tried to scale back their very own salaries on value grounds. And it’s fury over her high-handed behaviour in Downing Road and past that has prompted the leaks about her wage to the BBC.

As Chris Mason, the BBC’s revered Political Editor, mentioned: ‘That is what motivated the one who tipped me off. . . And I do know from different conversations I’ve had that this individual is way from alone.

‘And that tells you one thing concerning the fractious relationships amongst some on the prime of Authorities, lower than three months after Labour gained the election.’

Keir Starmer has now reportedly ordered an inner inquiry into the leak, and it’s claimed that Cupboard Secretary Sir Simon has been requested to move the inquiry.

Which is deeply ironic. As a result of, based on a well-placed supply, it’s the feud between Case and Grey that lies on the coronary heart of the turmoil.

‘Somebody is inflicting hassle by leaking stuff,’ the supply mentioned. ‘They’re undermining each Grey and Case however it’s the fame of the Authorities which is being broken essentially the most. You possibly can see out of your images Grey is attempting to put down the regulation to Case’s workforce and telling them the hostile briefings must cease.’

Case can also be being blamed by these ministers and officers who assist Grey for failing to ­forestall a sequence of leaks from inside No 10. Not nearly Grey’s wage, however a spread of points, together with the ­revelations final weekend that the Prime Minister’s spouse accepted £5,000 price of free garments and wardrobe assist.

The high-end outfits for Girl Starmer have been funded from the deep coffers of Labour’s largest single donor Lord Alli, who’s price an estimated £200 million. Alli, who was given a uncommon, all-­entry cross to No 10, gifted Keir Starmer a further £16,200 for assist together with his wardrobe, together with fits, and £2,485 for spectacles.

After a bruising week during which Labour’s approval scores went into freefall, yesterday Starmer pledged to not settle for donations for clothes in future, together with Deputy PM Angela Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The Cupboard Workplace has denied Case was the supply of any leaks or destructive briefing.

Requested if the PM was glad he was not behind any leaks, a No 10 spokeswoman mentioned: ‘Sure. The Cupboard Secretary stays centered on delivering for the Prime Minister and the work of Authorities and dealing carefully with the Prime Minister and Cupboard.’ 

As for Sue Grey, the PM mentioned this week: ‘I’m not going to speak behind her again and I’m not going to speak about particular person members of workers, whether or not it’s Sue Grey or some other member of workers.

‘All I can say concerning the tales is most of them are wildly unsuitable.’

Intriguingly, Lord Alli’s largesse additionally reached Sue Grey – or not less than her household. He gave £10,000 to the Beckenham and Penge constituency celebration the place her son Liam was elected as MP in July.

The Monetary Instances reported yesterday that considerations had been raised within the run-up to the election that Alli was aiding Grey within the choice of some appointments to the potential Labour authorities.

Labour insisted he was not ‘formally’ requested about job suggestions however didn’t deny his involvement.

‘He made himself accessible and Sue was blissful to have somebody within the Get together who was on her workforce serving to out,’ defined a Labour supply.

The FT quoted one other Labour determine saying: ‘He made himself Sue’s greatest pal.’

There isn’t a doubt that Grey’s massive wage and overbearing energy in Downing Road have prompted anger and frustration. 

And the disclosure that Keir Starmer has accepted a staggering £100,000 price of free items, together with tickets to ­soccer matches and Adele and Taylor Swift live shows, has solely added to the tensions, not least as a result of some workers have had pay cuts.

I can disclose that dozens of Spads this month for the primary time joined a department of the FDA, the civil service union with a view to battle again in opposition to the affect of Grey.

They blame her for slashing their salaries to beneath the degrees they have been being paid after they labored for the Labour Get together in Opposition. Grey is without doubt one of the four-strong committee which units the pay of ­political appointees; the opposite three are civil servants.

One Labour Get together official advised me: ‘Now we all know why salaries have been pegged again by Sue Grey. Presumably she wanted to chop their pay to launch funds for her personal bumper wage. This has gone down like a lead balloon.’

Grey was at all times a controversial selection as chief of workers final yr. Because the individual accountable for ethics and propriety within the Cupboard Workplace, she led the investigation into Partygate which successfully ended Boris Johnson’s premiership. It was solely ten months later that she was provided a job as Starmer’s chief of workers

Many Labour MPs now worry the rows over Grey may overshadow the Get together Convention, which opens in Liverpool tomorrow, their first as a celebration of presidency since 2009. 

The temper ought to have been triumphal however opinion polls are displaying Starmer’s private scores in deep destructive territory. MPs blame the inner strife in Whitehall and an absence of grip on No 10.

As for Simon Case, he’s extensively anticipated to depart Downing Road by the top of the yr having began as Cupboard Secretary underneath Boris Johnson in 2020.

Certainly, the images of Grey’s altercation together with his most senior official underlines an issue on the coronary heart of the Authorities machine which can not raise till one among them – Grey or Case – goes.