‘Formidable’ Whitehall enforcer brought in to clean up Downing Street party debacle

Sur Gray was once described as ‘the most powerful person you’ve never heard of’ in government (Picture: PA/Getty)

A Whitehall enforcer who was once described as ‘deputy God’ will take charge of the Downing Street Christmas party investigation. 

The probe descended into farce yesterday after it emerged cabinet secretary Simon Case himself had knowledge of gatherings during lockdown. 

He was forced to quit the investigation, which had reportedly been due to report back imminently, after it emerged a quiz was held in his department which he was aware of and spoke at.

Now Sue Gray, a Whitehall heavy hitter who is said to wield significant power behind the scenes but operates in relative secrecy, will take charge of the process.

Its original scope was to look at three separate events (two at Downing Street and one of the Department for Education) but it could be widened following the emergence of several new claims and admissions. 

Ms Gray has a reputation as being a ruthless and powerful figure within the upper echelons of the civil service.

She currently serves as second permanent secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities under Michael Gove.

Sue Gray has wielded significant influence in SW1 over the years but, as an unelected civil servant, many will not know her name (Picture: LNP)

Her reputation was forged during her time over seeing ministerial ethics in the cabinet office from 2012-2018, putting her at the centre of high profile political scandals.

In 2012, she oversaw the investigation launched after Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling a policeman a ‘pleb’.

She also led the inquiry which saw deputy prime minister Damian Green leave his post over allegations pornography was viewed on his work computer.

Former Tory MP and Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin is reported to have said of Ms Gray: ‘It took me precisely two years before I realised who it is that runs Britain. 

‘Our great United Kingdom is actually entirely run by a lady called Sue Gray, the head of ethics or something in the Cabinet Office. Unless she agrees, things just don’t happen.’

Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, has been forced to step aside from the parties investigation (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

She is also part of the panel deciding on who will be next chair of the media regulator Ofcom and reportedly has a role in vetting people proposed for honours.

Ms Gray was once described by BBC Newsnight’s then policy editor Chris Cook as ‘the most powerful person you’ve never heard of’.

Tory MP Richard Holden described her as ‘formidable’ and said she was ‘not a pushover’.

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner called on her to hand over any evidence of law-breaking to the police, adding: ‘I think that the evidence already is showing that Boris Johnson has set a tone for this government and has allowed this to happen under his watch’.

The Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said ‘having somebody else from the Civil Service marking their own isn’t good enough’.

Simon Case’s implication in the scandal is the latest embarrassing twist in the tale for the prime minister (Picture: PA)

He told the BBC’s Newsnight programme that ‘it needs to be someone from authority from outwith government, from outwith the Civil Service.

‘I would suggest that the best way to do that would be by having a judge-led inquiry.’

On Friday evening, a Cabinet Office spokesperson confirmed an event took place in Mr Case’s office, adding: ‘The cabinet secretary played no part in the event, but walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office.

‘No outside guests or other staff were invited or present.

‘This lasted for an hour and drinks and snacks were bought by those attending.

‘He also spoke briefly to staff in the office before leaving.’

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