Sue Gray, the civil servant who carried out the inquiry into 'Partygate', has resigned amid reports she is set to take up a job with Sir Keir Starmer.

The Cabinet Office confirmed her departure this afternoon, but Labour has not yet said whether or not she will join the party as the leader's chief of staff.

The move would be hugely controversial because it was Ms Gray's report which contributed to the resignation of Boris Johnson as prime minister.

Ms Gray had been second permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office.

'Nobody has been offered the job'

Labour has not yet commented on whether Ms Gray has been appointed, but a spokesman said earlier: "The process is ongoing, nobody has been offered the job."

In December 2021, Mr Johnson ordered in inquiry into reports of gatherings and parties on government premises during times of Covd restrictions.

It was originally meant to be headed by Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, but he had to recuse himself when it emerged an event had taken place in his own office.

The investigation was taken over by Ms Gray, whose initial findings condemned "a serious failure" in the standards of leadership, and also stated that a string of gatherings were "difficult to justify" while millions were unable to meet their friends and relatives.