Sue Gray declines job offer after warnings No 10 would rescind it

Sue Gray has decided not to take up the post of nation and regions envoy after it became clear Keir Starmer was planning to withdraw his offer, the Guardian understands.

- Pippa Crerar

Sources said the prime minister's former chief of staff, who was on a "short break" between roles after resigning last month, had been told No 10 was likely to rescind the job offer before she had even taken it up.

Downing Street insiders had grown concerned about the media attention that would follow Gray and were also unclear about what exactly the job would entail.

Sources told the Guardian that Starmer, who is in Baku at the Cop29 climate summit, was expected to give Gray a peerage. This would give her the freedom to promote issues that were important to her - including devolution - from the House of Lords.