| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? 19:51 - Sep 18 with 5929 views | mutters |
Sue Gray, the lady whose report led to the downfall of Boris Johnson as PM highlighting his shocking behaviour during the pandemic. She was then appointed as Labours' chief of staff. She now earns more than the PM does.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx247wkq137o
Am I right here to say that this smells a bit of cronyism? (Obviously not as bad as the previous incumbents, but still....) |  |
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| "The only pensioner better off under Starmer" (n/t) on 19:54 - Sep 18 with 3881 views | Bloots |
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| "The sooner he comes back the better, this place has been a disaster without him" - TWTD User (July 2025) |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 19:57 - Sep 18 with 3858 views | bournemouthblue |
I think the BBC are keen to engineer a scandal that isn't really there
Will the general public care about this in a few days time, in all honesty? |  |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 19:58 - Sep 18 with 3851 views | DJR |
My understanding is that Starmer doesn't set her pay, so I wouldn't count that as cronyism.
But there is an awful lot of other things going on at the moment which leave a lot to be desired.
One thing is the briefings/leaks which are going on from different factions in and around No. 10. [Post edited 18 Sep 2024 20:02]
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:00 - Sep 18 with 3826 views | mutters |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 19:58 - Sep 18 by DJR |
My understanding is that Starmer doesn't set her pay, so I wouldn't count that as cronyism.
But there is an awful lot of other things going on at the moment which leave a lot to be desired.
One thing is the briefings/leaks which are going on from different factions in and around No. 10. [Post edited 18 Sep 2024 20:02]
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I thought the speed she went from publishing the report to becoming Labours chief of staff to be a bit suss, to be honest. | |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:01 - Sep 18 with 3818 views | DJR |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:00 - Sep 18 by mutters |
I thought the speed she went from publishing the report to becoming Labours chief of staff to be a bit suss, to be honest. |
I certainly agree with you there, and wouldn't have touched her with a barge pole.
But having appointed her, I don't have any particular concerns about her pay.
But I realise now that was not the only point you were making. [Post edited 18 Sep 2024 20:03]
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:07 - Sep 18 with 3744 views | NedPlimpton |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:01 - Sep 18 by DJR |
I certainly agree with you there, and wouldn't have touched her with a barge pole.
But having appointed her, I don't have any particular concerns about her pay.
But I realise now that was not the only point you were making. [Post edited 18 Sep 2024 20:03]
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I definitely feel like the pay is irrelevant. There's plenty of other higher earners within the civil service |  | | |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:10 - Sep 18 with 3714 views | Mullet |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 19:57 - Sep 18 by bournemouthblue |
I think the BBC are keen to engineer a scandal that isn't really there
Will the general public care about this in a few days time, in all honesty? |
I think it’s the Tory press in general.
They’ve constantly gone after him from day one because the timescale doesn’t matter. It’s all about discrediting him as it’s the only play they have.
The clothes thing is weird to be honest, Sue Gray is old news being raked over by people with a grudge and misrepresentation at its most cynical.
Until he starts giving out peerages to dodgy people and millions to his mates it’s a rather lopsided pissing contests. I just hope we start seeing some light and some progress this side of Christmas. |  |
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| B Hell Bloots on 20:12 - Sep 18 with 3697 views | Keno |
| "The only pensioner better off under Starmer" (n/t) on 19:54 - Sep 18 by Bloots |
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you are on top form tonight |  |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:15 - Sep 18 with 3662 views | DarkBrandon |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:00 - Sep 18 by mutters |
I thought the speed she went from publishing the report to becoming Labours chief of staff to be a bit suss, to be honest. |
She had to take 6 months gardening leave. How long would you consider appropriate? |  | | |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:19 - Sep 18 with 3638 views | redrickstuhaart |
Its an absolute non story. |  | | |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:02 - Sep 19 with 3351 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:19 - Sep 18 by redrickstuhaart |
Its an absolute non story. |
it's very odd. It's got to be politically motivated, Shirley?
She earns less than others in the civil service. Considerably less than the BBC reporter who broke the 'story'. Even Micah Richards earns more than her from the licence fee, for just sitting on a sofa laughing! |  |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:07 - Sep 19 with 3328 views | DanTheMan |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:02 - Sep 19 by Swansea_Blue |
it's very odd. It's got to be politically motivated, Shirley?
She earns less than others in the civil service. Considerably less than the BBC reporter who broke the 'story'. Even Micah Richards earns more than her from the licence fee, for just sitting on a sofa laughing! |
It's so weird they've had to put out another story this morning explaining why it matters... |  |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:08 - Sep 19 with 3312 views | redrickstuhaart |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:02 - Sep 19 by Swansea_Blue |
it's very odd. It's got to be politically motivated, Shirley?
She earns less than others in the civil service. Considerably less than the BBC reporter who broke the 'story'. Even Micah Richards earns more than her from the licence fee, for just sitting on a sofa laughing! |
A few people bitter and bitchy about a woman earning more than them and having significant influence? Surely not.... | | | |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:12 - Sep 19 with 3268 views | DJR |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:08 - Sep 19 by redrickstuhaart |
A few people bitter and bitchy about a woman earning more than them and having significant influence? Surely not.... |
The crazy thing (with all the briefings which have led to this being out in the open) is that it is some in top Labour ranks who are bitter and bitchy.
There clearly is a turf war going on, which this early on does not augur well for sound government at the centre. [Post edited 19 Sep 2024 10:41]
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:21 - Sep 19 with 3188 views | Keno |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:12 - Sep 19 by DJR |
The crazy thing (with all the briefings which have led to this being out in the open) is that it is some in top Labour ranks who are bitter and bitchy.
There clearly is a turf war going on, which this early on does not augur well for sound government at the centre. [Post edited 19 Sep 2024 10:41]
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"There clearly is a turf war going on, which this early on does not augur well for sound government at the centre"
From a small amount of inside info there are 2 or 3 turfs wars going on in the Labour, actually not helped by the big majority. The main one seems to be 'old left' wanting a much more socialise approach 'tax the rich, money for the workers, higher public spending' and lets call it a "newer Labour; who are tying to take a more pragmatic, dare I say sensible, approach
Its likely the later will win out but could actually make what should have been a easier settling in time much harder | |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:28 - Sep 19 with 3133 views | Meadowlark |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 19:57 - Sep 18 by bournemouthblue |
I think the BBC are keen to engineer a scandal that isn't really there
Will the general public care about this in a few days time, in all honesty? |
Yes. Exactly what I thought. Not news is it, |  | | |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:38 - Sep 19 with 3069 views | DJR |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:21 - Sep 19 by Keno |
"There clearly is a turf war going on, which this early on does not augur well for sound government at the centre"
From a small amount of inside info there are 2 or 3 turfs wars going on in the Labour, actually not helped by the big majority. The main one seems to be 'old left' wanting a much more socialise approach 'tax the rich, money for the workers, higher public spending' and lets call it a "newer Labour; who are tying to take a more pragmatic, dare I say sensible, approach
Its likely the later will win out but could actually make what should have been a easier settling in time much harder |
This particular issue is concerned with those at the heart of the Starmer project, and has nothing to do with the left.
This from Chris Mason who broke the story confirms this, and what I said above.
"This story, at its crux, is not about [Gray’s] salary per se.
It is about the levels of upset and anger - fair or otherwise - about her and her role at the top of government.
That is what motivated the person who tipped me off - at considerable professional risk - to tell me what I am now telling you.
And I know from other conversations I have had - and members of our BBC team have had - that this person is far from alone.
And that tells you something about the fractious relationships among some at the top of government, less than three months after Labour won the election." [Post edited 19 Sep 2024 10:39]
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:48 - Sep 19 with 3013 views | Keno |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:38 - Sep 19 by DJR |
This particular issue is concerned with those at the heart of the Starmer project, and has nothing to do with the left.
This from Chris Mason who broke the story confirms this, and what I said above.
"This story, at its crux, is not about [Gray’s] salary per se.
It is about the levels of upset and anger - fair or otherwise - about her and her role at the top of government.
That is what motivated the person who tipped me off - at considerable professional risk - to tell me what I am now telling you.
And I know from other conversations I have had - and members of our BBC team have had - that this person is far from alone.
And that tells you something about the fractious relationships among some at the top of government, less than three months after Labour won the election." [Post edited 19 Sep 2024 10:39]
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The first part of your first paragraph is right
but there is much a deeper undercurrent within the party | |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:56 - Sep 19 with 2960 views | DJR |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:48 - Sep 19 by Keno |
The first part of your first paragraph is right
but there is much a deeper undercurrent within the party |
The left has been marginalised in the party not least because the right took total control of Parliamentary selections.
At the time of the election, there were only around 20 MPs who one might described as being of the left in Labour terms, and six of those have been suspended.
As it is, I remember reading around the time Labour ditched the £28 billion green energy pledge that the whips were surprised that there was no opposition amongst the prospective Labour candidates to that. Indeed, there was even praise for the decision.
The new intake really are a compliant lot and even more so now that the threat of whip withdrawal exists. [Post edited 19 Sep 2024 11:03]
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 11:08 - Sep 19 with 2899 views | Keno |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:56 - Sep 19 by DJR |
The left has been marginalised in the party not least because the right took total control of Parliamentary selections.
At the time of the election, there were only around 20 MPs who one might described as being of the left in Labour terms, and six of those have been suspended.
As it is, I remember reading around the time Labour ditched the £28 billion green energy pledge that the whips were surprised that there was no opposition amongst the prospective Labour candidates to that. Indeed, there was even praise for the decision.
The new intake really are a compliant lot and even more so now that the threat of whip withdrawal exists. [Post edited 19 Sep 2024 11:03]
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I hope you are right!! | |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 13:04 - Sep 19 with 2738 views | DJR |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 11:08 - Sep 19 by Keno |
I hope you are right!! |
I hope I'm wrong!! | | | |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 13:08 - Sep 19 with 2707 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:28 - Sep 19 by Meadowlark |
Yes. Exactly what I thought. Not news is it, |
The BBC are still obsessed with this bloke and giving a liar a platform to spout more lies
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 13:23 - Sep 19 with 2661 views | Plums |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 10:21 - Sep 19 by Keno |
"There clearly is a turf war going on, which this early on does not augur well for sound government at the centre"
From a small amount of inside info there are 2 or 3 turfs wars going on in the Labour, actually not helped by the big majority. The main one seems to be 'old left' wanting a much more socialise approach 'tax the rich, money for the workers, higher public spending' and lets call it a "newer Labour; who are tying to take a more pragmatic, dare I say sensible, approach
Its likely the later will win out but could actually make what should have been a easier settling in time much harder |
Despite having voted for them, I was always fearful that 'Labour's gonna Labour' and it seems here they go. More interested in fighting each other for a position on the right/ left axis than representing the people who put them there.
Sigh |  |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 13:43 - Sep 19 with 2595 views | NthQldITFC |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 20:15 - Sep 18 by DarkBrandon |
She had to take 6 months gardening leave. How long would you consider appropriate? |
Depends on the size and state of the garden, Shirley?
Plus how adept she is at turning a sod. |  |
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| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 13:50 - Sep 19 with 2568 views | DJR |
| Blimey, cronyism at its finest? on 13:23 - Sep 19 by Plums |
Despite having voted for them, I was always fearful that 'Labour's gonna Labour' and it seems here they go. More interested in fighting each other for a position on the right/ left axis than representing the people who put them there.
Sigh |
As I mentioned above, this particular issue has nothing to do with left/right issues.
This from a tweet from ITV's political editor.
"New- the reason Labour’s special advisers are so upset about this is many of them were put on standing salaries of £57k when they began, so Sue Gray is earning 3x that. Equivalent Tory spads were on over £100k. Contracts since negotiated but some still landing this week 1
They were told the Tory pay was not relevant. Instead there were four new pay bands. I understand that the highest goes from £140k- £180k. So is someone earning more than Sue Gray? Then there is senior spad, spad and junior spad. Sounds like even big depts are in 3rd band 2/
And though many have negotiated a bit higher than 57k it doesn’t sound like much higher, and way below predecessors. These are all big salaries of course but they feel they are working 7 days a week and not much more than in opposition 3/
Beyond that- there were people who were told they were getting roles in govt - but then weren’t on a pre-agreed list from no10 and so were suddenly out of jobs after working for four years or more in opposition. So there is bad blood 4/
Tories saying over £100k was quite rare but still the salaries were higher. In a way it’s less about salaries but more the upset it’s caused among a group of people who are pretty core to govt political functioning 5/"
For what it is worth, I had dealings with special advisers when I worked in the Cabinet Office during the Blair government. They tended to be young and bright, often not long out university, but they were not as clever as they thought they were and really didn't have much common sense or much of a clue about the real world. [Post edited 19 Sep 2024 13:51]
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