Sue Gray, who recently resigned as the Downing Street chief of staff, is set to skip the upcoming major summit for devolved leaders of the nations and regions. The summit, chaired by Keir Starmer, will not have Gray in attendance as she plans to take a short break following her transition to a new role within the government.
Starmer, who is preparing to chair his first devolved government summit, had appointed Gray as his new representative for the nations and regions after she stepped down as his chief of staff last weekend. Her absence at the summit will be notable as she takes a brief hiatus before officially starting her new position.
Gray’s appointment to this new role comes after a period of upheaval within Number 10, with Downing Street facing questions about Gray’s salary, reporting lines, and specific responsibilities in her new role. Despite these uncertainties, cabinet ministers have emphasized the presence of a strong team within Downing Street.
The summit itself is expected to feature announcements from the prime minister regarding significant investments in the green energy sector, amounting to up to £24 billion. These investments aim to create jobs across the UK and boost growth in the clean energy industry.
Ahead of the summit, Starmer highlighted the importance of these investments, calling them a vote of confidence in the government’s efforts to drive growth throughout the UK. The event is also seen as a precursor to an International Investment Summit planned for the following week.
In a bid to bolster ties with the business community, Starmer recently appointed Poppy Gustafsson, former head of cybersecurity firm Darktrace, as the new “investment minister.” This move signals the government’s commitment to strengthening relationships and fostering innovation in various sectors.
Gray’s decision to take a break and miss the summit underscores the ongoing changes within the government and the focus on driving economic growth and collaboration with key stakeholders. As discussions continue around key investments and strategies, Gray’s absence represents a shift in leadership dynamics under Starmer’s administration.