Sue Gray: What does the new nations envoy mean for Wales?

What is an envoy?

In the case of Sue Gray we really aren’t sure, and that in itself is perhaps telling.

On Sunday, after weeks of turmoil behind the scenes in Downing Street, she was removed as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff and appointed envoy for the nations and regions.

He role is yet to be publicly defined, and in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay there is uncertainty where she will “fit” into the current set-up or what she will actually do.

Two and half weeks ago when I and other journalists were in Downing Street to interview the prime minister, she walked past us on the stairs carrying a big bundle of folders. There were a few familiar nods from colleagues who had had dealings with her in Northern Ireland.

Little did we know that we might bump into her again soon… or will we, given the uncertainty over the new role?

Until yesterday the job did not even exist.

Plaid Cymru’s leader has already described the move as “insulting” to Wales and that Starmer is becoming a “problem” for First Minister Eluned Morgan.

Rhun an Iorwerth’s view is that an issue in Downing Street has been solved by palming it off to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – where it will be out of sight and out of mind. The SNP have accused Labour of a “colonial mindset”.

The Welsh Conservatives say her appointment will be unwelcome in Wales as she was chief of staff to a prime minister who cut the winter fuel payment.

Ms Gray had become ‘the story’ after a row about how much she was paid, how much influence she wielded at No 10 and whether she was at odds with Morgan McSweeney, the man behind Labour’s general election campaign and who succeeds her.

Her departure – according to any number of sources – was inevitable, as the controversy around her was proving a huge distraction.

Ironically, she might remain the story for most of this week thanks to a big meeting taking place in Edinburgh on Friday.

It is the first gathering of the new Council of Nations and Regions, Keir Starmer’s attempt to “re-set” the relationship between the UK government and Westminster and the devolved governments and English mayors.

There is an expectation that Ms Gray will be there, so there might be a lot more media coverage – from the London-based press – than might normally have been expected.

The PM is also expected to attend, but it remains to be seen how serious this re-set will be in the longer term.

Will the PM himself attend future meetings or will that be the role of his new envoy?

A previous first minister – Mark Drakeford – was highly critical of the lack of regular contact between the previous Conservative UK government, especially the prime minister, and the Welsh Labour government in Cardiff Bay.

Demotion from chief of staff though it is, I am told Sue Gray has a strong grasp of devolved politics and what the devolved governments are looking for – she previously worked on secondment at the finance department of the Northern Ireland government.

I am also told that Morgan McSweeney has a very close eye on the threat posed to Labour by Reform at the looming 2026 Senedd election.

One of the big promises during Labour’s general election campaign was that two Labour governments working together would be better for us here in Wales.

The first big test of that with voters is fast approaching in 2026.

Ms Gray left Downing Street partly because – as a former civil servant – she wasn’t perceived as “political” enough.

We wait to see – in whatever her role ends up being – if she grasps the political jeopardy for Eluned Morgan in keeping the bulk of Welsh voters on board with Labour.

And until we know exactly what an envoy is, Sue Gray will remain a story, at least in this part of the world.