Discussion around Burnham’s team is ramping up since Guido revealed a possible No10 staffing structure in an Andy premiership. It’s not just going to be him you know…
Some Labour sources speculate that Sue Gray, the erstwhile No10 Chief of Staff, could take up a role in a Burnham government. Gray and the Manchester mayor worked closely together and Burnham was full of praise for her long after she left government:
- Sue Gray brokered meetings between Starmer and Burnham in October 2023 in King’s Cross and received positive briefings:
- “Gray was key to reassuring the mayors about the Labour leader’s commitment to devolving significant political powers.”
- Burnham gave a whole interview the next month about how great Sue Gray was:
- “The way Sue Gray has gone about working with us and discussing that opportunity with us is great. It’s really positive. I think Sue, given her civil service experience, understands the shortcomings of the way we’ve run the country. And that much is clear to me from working with her.”
- By December 2023 Gray had organised for Burnham to speak to shadow teams and got a glowing review:
- “A source close to Burnham said: ‘It’s noticeable how different teams are talking to us more, whether that be education, the devolution team, transport and others. Those are happening in a way that they weren’t previously and it’s all happened since Sue came in.'”
- In January 2024 her work with Burnham was prominently featured in cheerful write-ups:
- “Beyond Westminster, the chief of staff has carried out extensive outreach with regional leaders, such as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, mending fences and smoothing previously scratchy relationships.”
- Once into government Burnham rewarded Gray’s work with glowing praise for Starmer’s operation “listening to us” in a Guardian piece.
- When briefings against Gray had begun Burnham publicly backed Gray in September, describing her as a “huge positive” who has “brought things together“.
- “I would like to see the departure of people from Downing Street briefing against Sue Gray and I would like Sue to be absolutely working with us.”
- After she was ousted it was revealed in October 2024 that “Burnham had tried to organise a letter on behalf of mayors offering their support but not all were prepared to sign it.”
- The Manchester mayor maintained his support for Gray even after she was sacked, saying in December 2024:
- “Sue Gray was the person who moved things to a much more serious level… her arrival signalled quite a change in the seriousness of preparing for government.”
Burnham recently went campaigning with Gray’s son, the Labour MP Liam Conlon, in London. Conlon, while serving as a PPS, said he supported Burnham’s return to Westminster. He was seen canvassing with Burnham and Lucy Powell on 17th May, three days ago. Curious…
The Manchester mayor has kept up his strong focus on maximum devolution during this by-election so far. Sue, now Baroness Gray of Tottenham, could enjoy an advising or even ministerial role in a new administration looking to drive this and other more radical changes through. After all there is revenge to extract. Make sure you pay her enough, though…
