PARTYGATE researcher Sue Gray may have been in talks with Labor for a year before taking a job with them, she claimed last night.
The civil servant, who joined Sir Keir Starmer’s party as his chief of staff, could hold talks “off the books” for some time.
He also allegedly sent an email with suggestions about how witnesses should be treated during the parliamentary inquiry into Boris Johnson and whether he misled Parliament during the talks.
A source told the Mail on Sunday: “One of Sue Gray’s managers has told Cabinet officials they believe secret contacts with Labor began well before last November.
“They believe the contacts may continue for more than 12 months.
“Everything seems to have been done ‘off the books’ so the Cabinet Office has to play detective to piece it all together.”
“Labour said the claim was ‘categorically untrue’.
A spokeswoman added: “It is understood that a vacancy for Chief of Staff only arose in the autumn of last year, so Keir thought about what was needed in a replacement.”
