Baroness Sue Gray, a former chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer and a former civil servant in Northern Ireland, has voiced concerns about the effectiveness of the power-sharing institutions in Stormont, stating she "fears for Stormont."
Speaking at a panel event organized by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) to discuss constitutional change, coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of Brexit, Gray criticized the pace of decision-making within the devolved government. She argued that people in Northern Ireland "deserve action and decisions" that are currently hindered by bureaucracy.
Gray, who left Northern Ireland in 2020 after not being appointed to a senior civil service role, proposed a significant structural change: the implementation of regional metro mayors, similar to those in England. She suggested that at least two such mayoralties, one for Belfast and another for Londonderry, would grant more authority for regional decision-making.
Gray's career has included serving as a principal advisor on the union under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. She later joined Sir Keir Starmer's team as chief of staff after the Labour Party's victory in the 2024 general election but departed months later following disagreements over her salary.
During the panel discussion, when asked about the possibility of Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister if he were to secure the Labour leadership, Gray commented on his qualifications. "I think we've got time to the next election," she said, adding, "People will see… actions speak louder than words. If Andy is the successor his experience, not just in working in Manchester and Whitehall, he can bring a lot of experience to it."