Sue Gray personally authorised the Downing Street pass given to controversial Labour donor Waheed Alli, it was claimed last night.
Sources said it was the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Ms Gray who gave Lord Alli the right to come and go at No 10.
The revelation follows senior Tory MP John Glen writing to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case demanding to know whether it was Ms Gray or Sir Keir Starmer who authorised the Labour peer’s pass.
It also comes after it emerged that Ms Gray earns more than the Prime Minister. Last night Mr Glen, who said it was ‘deeply concerning’ that the pass had been issued at all, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘No wonder she’s on a higher salary than the Prime Minister.
‘It’s now clear that it’s Sue Gray – not Sir Keir – who decides who comes in and out of No 10.’
Sources said it was the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Sue Gray (pictured) who gave Lord Alli the right to come and go at No 10
According to reports, the pass gave Lord Alli, 59, (pictured) unrestricted access to Number 10
Government sources have insisted that it was ‘all entirely within the rules, and not unusual’. (Keir Starmer during a news conference at Downing Street)
Labour insisted last month that the pass was ‘temporary’ and had been ‘given back several weeks ago’. However, No 10 declined to comment last night.
The revelation last month that TV executive Lord Alli had a coveted security pass to Downing Street sparked questions over Labour’s relationship with its major donors.
It also appeared to underline the Labour peer’s importance to Sir Keir Starmer and his project for government.
According to reports, the pass gave Lord Alli, 59, who was ennobled by Tony Blair in 1998 and led the party’s fundraising for the General Election, unrestricted access to No 10.
At the time, sources said it was rare for anyone not formally employed as a political adviser or civil servant to be given such a Downing Street pass.
There were also suggestions that the decision to give Lord Alli such privileged access to No 10 was a mystery to everyone in Downing Street apart from the party donor himself – and whoever made the decision.
However, Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden conceded that Lord Alli brought ‘a huge amount to the Labour party’ and ‘was an important part of the election campaign’.
But he sought to play down the significance of the pass, insisting Lord Alli was ‘not doing a job in Downing Street… he’s not involved in any government or policy decisions.’
Mr McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, added: ‘I don’t believe there’s anything done here that’s in conflict with the rules.’
However, the Tories seized on the scale of donations Lord Alli had made to Sir Keir, including clothes and glasses, to demand to know exactly why he had been given the No 10 access and who approved it in the first place.
Government sources have insisted that it was ‘all entirely within the rules, and not unusual’.