Sue Gray, who served as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff before her departure from Downing Street, has reportedly described her time working in No 10 as "unbearable". The comments, relayed by a former senior aide, offer a rare and unflattering glimpse into the internal atmosphere of Starmer's government during its early period in power, adding to a series of reports about tension and dysfunction at the top of the administration.

According to the account, Gray felt an oppressive, paranoid atmosphere in No 10, with the aide recalling her fear that "someone was recording everything you say". Gray left her role as chief of staff not long after Labour's election victory amid reported clashes with other senior figures, and such remarks are likely to reignite scrutiny of the culture inside Starmer's top team.