Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is considering recruiting senior civil servant Sue Gray to be his new chief of staff.
Best known for her report into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street, Ms Gray has built a fearsome reputation over decades at the heart of government.
A veteran investigator of ministerial misbehaviour, she currently runs the Union and Constitution Directorate at the Cabinet Office.
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When approached by Sky News, Ms Gray declined to comment and said she would get her press office to respond.
A Labour spokesperson said: “The process is ongoing. Nobody has been offered the job.”
Ms Gray is the daughter of Irish immigrants and her son Liam Conlon is the chair of Labour’s Irish Society.
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The group was formerly led by the party’s director of communications Matthew Doyle.
Sir Keir’s search follows his dismissal of Sam White who served in the role for a year but was unpopular with some of the shadow cabinet.
Allies of the Labour leader say that due to the relative inexperience of his team, a candidate who understands how to operate at the top level of government is essential.
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Ms Gray’s appointment would echo Tony Blair’s recruitment of diplomat Jonathan Powell while Labour was in opposition in 1995.
Mr Powell later become Number 10’s first chief of staff and played a role in Northern Ireland peace talks ahead of the Good Friday Agreement.
A party source said: “[Sue Gray] knows how Number 10 works and she’s very popular with civil servants.”
