British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has named Cork man Morgan McSweeney as his new chief of staff. 

The position was previously occupied by Sue Gray, a former Newry pub landlady, who announced her resignation on Sunday afternoon. 

Ms Gray, who previously served as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, left the civil service to join the Labour Party while in opposition. 

However, since Labour returned to Government, it has been dogged by rows about donations to the party and Ms Gray’s salary - which was higher than the Prime Minister’s. 

In a statement, Ms Gray said it had been an honour to help Labour win power in July’s election. 

“In recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change,” she said. 

"It is for that reason I have chosen to stand aside, and I look forward to continuing to support the prime minister in my new role."

She will now take up a new position as Mr Starmer’s envoy to the United Kingdom’s nations and regions. 

From Macroom to Downing Street

Morgan McSweeney grew up in Macroom, County Cork but has been steeped in British Labour politics for decades.  

He worked for Mr Starmer in opposition and in 2022 the New Statesman wrote that, “The Irishman has become the most influential backroom operator in Keir Starmer's team.” 

When Labour won power in July, he joined Mr Starmer’s Downing Street operation as a political advisor. 

Mr McSweeney is married to Imogen Walker - the newly elected Labour MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Main image: Split of Stamer and Morgan McSweeney. Pictures by: Alamy.com