Sir Keir Starmer should “read the riot act to political advisers” and fire those behind the Sue Gray leaks, says Ruth Davidson | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer should find the source of the leaks about Sue Grey and “publicly fire her,” said the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

Ruth Davidson, co-host of Sky News’ electoral failuresaid in a live podcast event that political advisers in Downing Street needed to be “read the riot act” and reminded them that “journalists are not your friends”.

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During the discussion, former Labour MP and current peer Harriet Harman also suggested that the attacks on the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff might be fuelled by sexism.

Baroness Harman said: “There is something about an older woman in a position of authority that some young men find difficult to cope with.”

Mrs Gray, whose Report on parties in Downing Street She helped bring down Boris Johnson during the pandemic and now found herself at the centre of hostile briefings just as the Labour Party was summoning its loyal supporters to its annual conference in Liverpool – the first it has held in 15 years in government.

The row erupted on Wednesday when it was reported that she had received a pay rise following the general election, apparently raising her salary above the Prime Minister’s annual salary of £167,000.

In an apparent attempt to damage her politically, the BBC was told that Ms Gray now earns £170,000 and that junior staff are angry because some of them are paid less than when Labour was in opposition – despite now holding senior positions in government.

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The government does not dispute the amount of the salary, but insists that it did not set it itself, contrary to what some reports have claimed.

Ms Davidson said she did not think it mattered if Ms Gray earned more than the Prime Minister – what mattered was what the leaked information revealed about the workings of 10 Downing Street.

“Sir Keir Starmer should find the source of the leaks,” she said.

“If I were in charge of 10 Downing Street now, I would call in every political adviser and give them a dressing down.

“I would say journalists are not your friends. Once you are in government, they will no longer come to your children’s baptisms. You owe loyalty to your colleagues. And then I would publicly fire three people.”

Home Secretary Jess Phillips also spoke at the event, saying she was not convinced by reports that Ms Gray might resign as a result of the briefings.

“I don’t think she’s going anywhere,” she said, adding: “From my experience, I don’t know the idea of ​​loss of control or dysfunction at 10 Downing Street.”