Starmer Faces Criticism Over Attempt to Block BBC Story on Gray's Salary

Sir Keir Starmer has come under scrutiny for allegedly attempting to prevent the BBC from reporting that his chief of staff, Sue Gray, earned a salary of £170,000—£3,000 more than his own. Following the BBC's notification of its intent to publish this information, Starmer enlisted the help of Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who contacted BBC officials to express concerns over the story's implications. Case's intervention is notable as high-level discussions typically occur only in matters of national security. Starmer's team believed that revealing Gray's salary could discourage talented individuals from public service roles due to fear of media scrutiny. The BBC ultimately proceeded with the report, despite claims from Downing Street that some details were inaccurate. Gray resigned shortly after the story aired, citing the intense media focus as a distraction from the government.