Wes Streeting sparks outrage as he jokes Sue Gray was 'behind JFK assassination'

The health secretary mocked criticism of Sue Gray after it was revealed Keir Starmer's chief of staff is paid more than the PM.

By Michael Knowles, Home Affairs and Defence Editor, Jon King, News Reporter

21:53, Sun, Sep 22, 2024 | UPDATED: 22:44, Sun, Sep 22, 2024

Wes Streeting

Wes Streeting's joke has sparked a backlash from Tory sources (Image: Getty)

Wes Streeting has joked that embattled Sue Gray was behind the assassination of US president John F Kennedy amid fury among Labour advisers over her pay.

The Health Secretary also quipped that Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff had been hiding Lord Lucan, a British peer who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in November 1974.

Mr Streeting told a meeting of the Labour Together party in Liverpool: "For all these years Sue Gray has been hiding Lord Lucan, she’s shot JFK and I can’t even tell you what she did to Shergar."

He also came to Ms Gray’s defence over her £170,000 salary. Labour aides are furiously briefing against Ms Gray, criticising the fact they feel their own pay is being restricted.

He said: "I want to welcome the BBC’s conviction that no one should be paid more than the Prime Minister, that no one should receive hospitality, and that we should judge performance on social media mentions — be careful what we wish for, comrades."

Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Sue Gray Attends The Covid Inquiry In Belfast

Wes Streeting has made light of Sue Gray's pay (Image: Getty)

A Tory source said: "Mr Streeting is now a senior member of the government. He needs to leave behind student union conspiracy theories.

"It’s no wonder Labour have been forced to bring in so many advisors into the department for health with someone so immature and out of depth.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's top aide reportedly received a pay rise after the General Election which put her earnings above the PM's.

Ms Gray asked for and was given a salary of £170,000, according to the BBC. This means her earnings are some £3,000 more than those of Sir Keir, who is paid around £167,000 from his MP and Prime Minister's salaries.

The BBC said a number of Whitehall sources had briefed the organisation on Ms Gray's salary increase.

Don't miss...
Rachel Reeves told to end 'callous and unnecessary' attacks on pensioners [REPORT]
Angela Rayner torn apart live on Laura Kuenssberg show as viewers blast freebies [WATCH]
Picture shows rammed Border Force boat arrive in UK as 700 migrants pour in [LATEST]

Some suggest the row over Ms Gray's pay has exposed the chaos inside Labour's Downing Street operation just weeks after the party swept to power at the General Election.

The Conservative Party responded with a series of questions for Labour, including whether the PM personally signed off on Ms Gray's new salary and the increase to the cap on the highest pay band.

They also asked whether a special adviser remuneration committee still exists and if Ms Gray is a member, as well as what role she played in setting her salary and changing pay bands.

Sir Keir claimed he was completely in control in the immediate aftermath of the revelation about Ms Gray's pay. Since then, members of his Cabinet team have sought to defend Ms Gray and respond to anger over gifts handed to Labour MPs by wealthy donors.

Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner in Liverpool

Keir Starmer says he is in control while Angela Rayner rallies to Sue Gray's defence (Image: Getty)

Angela Rayner said she rejected the suggestion the Prime Minister's chief of staff was "part of a problem", telling the BBC: "I don't accept that Sue Gray is part of a problem at all and I don't accept the caricature of how Number 10 is working."

The Deputy Prime Minister pointed to work on the Government's legislative agenda and responding to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's final report as cases where she, the Prime Minister and Ms Gray had all worked together.

She added: "I'm in Number 10, I go in at 8.30 every single morning and I do not see that, and I do not see this caricature that somehow we're all fighting over mansions or all at loggerheads with each other.

"Actually, we're all really focused on making sure we deliver because that's what the people are going to ask in a few years' time - is Labour changing the country for the better? - and we are determined to make sure we answer that question."