Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Gray is not coming back to work with the PM, HuffPost UK understands.

Some reports suggest she rejected Starmer’s job offer of becoming an envoy for devolved nations and regions – having initially accepted it on October 6 – while others say it was No.10′s decision.

Gray, who attracted national attention after leading the civil service’s partygate probe during Boris Johnson’s premiership, was hired to lead No.10 as the prime minister’s most powerful aide after Labour won the election. 

Her political appointment in Downing Street caused significant backlash and soon there was widespread speculation that a deep rift had emerged between Starmer’s senior officials behind the scenes.

Gray ended up quitting more than five weeks ago.

She was then expected to move to a part-time job back in Whitehall and work between Starmer and the leaders of the UK’s devolved nations and regions.

In her resignation statement in October, Gray said, “intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change” – but added that she was “pleased to accept the new envoy role.”

The PM also issued a statement saying he was “delighted she would continue to support our work”.

But the job change was seen by many as a demotion, especially as it was not clear exactly what the new role would entail – or if it would even be paid.

After weeks of silence from Gray, No.10 confirmed to HuffPost UK that she would not be coming back to work for the PM.

A source close to the former civil servant also told the Financial Times on Tuesday: “She has taken a decision not to take the role. She’s going to focus on other things.

“She’s taken time to think about it properly, talking to stakeholders, but ultimately she’s decided she doesn’t want to do it.”

A Downing Street source then told the BBC: “We think she has made the right decision.”

Gray went on a “short break” after quitting as Starmer’s chief of staff, where she had been paid more than the prime minister with an annual salary of £170,000.

She did not attend a regional investment summit in mid-October, as she was taking “a bit of downtime” following an intense period in the spotlight, according to cabinet office minister Pat McFadden. 

The Guardian reported on Tuesday that Starmer was planning to withdraw the job offer to Gray allegedly due to concerns about the media attention which could stop her from working effectively.

A government source told the newspaper: “Sue hasn’t been told for sure that the job is no longer on offer, but she has been warned that this is the direction of travel. The way some people are behaving towards her is really horrible.” 

Morgan McSweeney, who led Starmer’s general election campaign, has been the prime minister’s chief of staff since Gray quit.