The assignment handed to Sue Gray, to investigate gatherings on government premises during Covid restrictions, was politically radioactive. But under huge public scrutiny and political pressure, the senior civil servant performed the task admirably.
Keir Starmer has raised eyebrows in Westminster by appointing Gray as his chief of staff. Given the high esteem in which she is held across Whitehall, it is hardly surprising that a political party which hopes to be in government might want her on its team.
Of course, Gray’s role in the report and her unusual name recognition among the public make her an outlier. But civil servants leaving to work in politics is not uncommon. From David Frost to Jonathan Powell — indeed, Keir Starmer himself went from Director of Public Prosecutions to a Labour MP.
Furthermore, it is a leap lacking in evidence to suggest this move somehow calls into question Gray’s work on the investigation or anything else during her time in Whitehall. She was brought in specifically because of the respect she commanded across government and Parliament. Indeed, it is difficult now to argue that the report was somehow a “stitch-up” when Boris Johnson welcomed it at the time as a “vindication” and the Met Police issued fixed penalty notices.
Gray is entitled to pursue a new career, and the decision in no way calls into question her years of public service.
A return on fare rises
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, it is not the news any commuter wants to see. Tube and bus passengers will pay an additional £250 million a year to Transport for London when the annual fare rise comes into force on Sunday. Meanwhile, for national rail customers, the cost of a season ticket to the capital will climb by £280.
Mayor Sadiq Khan has chosen to follow the Government’s lead in matching the average national 5.9 per cent hike, without which he would have been forced to fund the gap from City Hall budgets. The extra 10p on bus fares is set to raise £72 million. This could have been covered by the £188 million windfall from higher than expected council tax and business rates revenues, but those went to fund free school meals and more money for policing.
Ultimately, it is now incumbent on TfL to ensure that this money funds a world-class transport network.
Hold onto your coats
March is spring, right? Think rising temperatures and late sunsets. Well, not quite.
Next week the mercury is set to plummet, with snow forecast, as cold air from the Arctic heads to Britain. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a weather warning.
In fairness, astronomical spring does not begin until the 20th of this month. So respite for those hoping to put away their winter coats remains a few weeks off.
