Downing Street continued to refuse to supply any details on Sue Gray’s fake envoy job a full week after they promised it would all be public “shortly.” Guido revealed last week that a row over pay and severance was responsible for the roadblock…
Gray’s role as “PM’s Envoy to the Nations and Regions” now looks like it’s up for the chop before it even exists. A Downing Street source tells Guido she’s now “very unlikely” to do the role, “not least as no one can work out what it is.” John Swinney’s refusal ever to talk to Sue Gray is seen internally as an indicator of how stupid the position would be if No 10 pressed ahead with it…
Meanwhile whispers from government have Gray backing down in her fight for a bumper severance pay package, so that it doesn’t need to be publicly approved from above. Just that speedy peerage on the way then…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”