Keir Starmer’s new Chief of Staff Sue Gray already drawing up plans for Labour’s first 100 days in power, source claims

•  Sue Gray has told Labour frontbenchers to prepare to ‘hit the ground running’
•  Shadow ministers have been told to be ready for a May general election
•  This is despite insiders saying Rishi Sunak will not hold an election until autumn

Sue Gray is drawing up plans for Labour’s first 100 days in power.

Sir Keir Starmer’s new Chief of Staff has told Labour frontbenchers to have their first weeks in office mapped out to ‘hit the ground running’, a source said.

Shadow ministers have also been ordered to be ‘match fit’ for a May general election, with manifesto pledges finalised – despite Westminster insiders increasingly expecting Mr Sunak not to go to the polls until next autumn.

Partygate inquisitor Ms Gray started work in Sir Keir’s office last month and has been meeting shadow Cabinet Ministers to get to know them. 

Her move from Whitehall mandarin to becoming a Labour official prompted fury from the Government.

Battle ready: Chief of Staff Sue Gray is drawing up plans for Labour ‘s first 100 days in power

Labour frontbenchers are pushing for access to the civil service to start preparing for a general election. 

They are urging Sir Keir’s office to make a formal access request before Christmas – but it is understood his team will wait until next year.

A senior Labour insider said: ‘We’ve been told to plan on the basis that it could be a May election. 

‘We need to start talking to the civil service before Christmas so we have time to prepare for power. 

‘Gordon Brown was reluctant to allow it but even he was persuaded.’

Labour frontbenchers are urging Sir Keir’s office to make a formal access request to the civil service ahead of the general election before Christmas – but his team will wait until next year

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy is one of the few Opposition politicians to get briefings from Whitehall officials, as is customary.

Mr Lammy has been into the Foreign Office a number of times, and sources have accused him of ‘measuring the curtains every time he’s there’.

Source: Read Full Article