
Partygate investigator Sue Gray joins advisory firm with ex-footballer Gary Neville
Baroness Gray is Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff and is best known as the 'partygate' investigator who investigated Boris Johnson's lockdown antics.
She later became Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance in Stormont.
Consello announced yesterday that Lady Sue had been appointed as Chair of Consello UK.
The former political aide and senior civil servant, who departed Starmer's Downing Street in October, will lead Consello's expansion in the UK and will start immediately.
Former Manchester United player Gary Neville is chairman of Consello Strive UK, which is part of the Consello group of companies, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The company has also hired US National Football League legend Tom Brady, and tennis champion Serena Williams.
Consello Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Declan Kelly said: 'Sue brings unparalleled insight from her decades of leadership in government service. Our entire team, as well as our clients, will benefit from her experience in countless ways.'
Lady Gray said: 'I'm delighted to have the opportunity to join the team at Consello. What Declan and his colleagues have accomplished in building the company to date is very impressive and I look forward to further supporting that growth in the UK and globally.'
In her maiden speech in the House of Lords in March, she joked about her old job in Northern Ireland, running a pub with her Portaferry husband in Newry during the Troubles. She said: 'On joining the Civil Service I was not on a mission to work my way to the top. This was probably best illustrated when I took a career break which has been much commented upon.
'Although the Civil Service encourages its future leaders to get outside experience, running a pub in Newry, County Down, in the late 80s was not on their list.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Coin Geek
2 days ago
- Coin Geek
Philippines to implement ‘crypto' tax framework by 2028
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The Philippine government has committed to adopt an international reporting framework for digital currency assets by 2028, aligning with global efforts to curb cross-border tax evasion and illicit financial flows. The move underscores the country's Department of Finance's (DoF) push to strengthen fiscal transparency as digital currencies become more mainstream in the country. 'We need faster and stronger systems for collaboration if we are to beat tax evasion and illicit transactions,' Ralph Recto, Finance Secretary, said in a statement. 'The government must ensure that crypto-asset users are paying their fair share of taxes and that no illicit financial activity goes unpunished.' Joining 67 jurisdictions in global tax transparency initiative Source: Department of Finance/Facebook During the 8th Asia Initiative Meeting held in Malé, Maldives, Finance Undersecretary Charlito Martin Mendoza formalized the country's commitment to adopt the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The CARF is designed to standardize the automatic exchange of tax information on crypto-assets across jurisdictions. The framework ensures that individuals and entities engaging in cross-border digital asset transactions cannot hide income or gains from tax authorities. The Philippines joins 67 jurisdictions, 10 of which are in Asia, that have pledged to implement the CARF by either 2027 or 2028. The timing of the country's commitment aligns with the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s six-year term, during which fiscal discipline and transparency have been recurring themes. 'This is a timely commitment as digital currency becomes one of the preferred means for transactions,' Recto noted. Digital currency growth and risks in the Philippines Recto previously stated that Filipinos have invested an estimated PHP6 trillion ($107 billion) in digital currencies, more than double the combined size of the country's business process outsourcing and offshore gaming sectors. 'In the Philippines, a lot of Filipinos have already invested in crypto. Something like 6 trillion pesos worth of investments in crypto is being done,' Recto told Bloomberg in an interview earlier this year. He attributed this growth to a tech-savvy, youthful population and the widespread use of digital wallets, noting that 90 million Filipinos now use such tools to save, invest, and transact. However, third-party data paints a more measured picture. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis estimated the Philippines' 2024 crypto flows at $43.1 billion, down from $66 billion in 2023. The firm attributed the apparent 40% drop to revised methodologies for tracking decentralized finance (DeFi) activity. Despite the discrepancy, the numbers underscore the importance of tax authorities keeping pace with the rapid adoption of digital currencies. The decentralized and borderless nature of digital assets presents challenges for enforcement and taxation. Boosting exchange of information ahead of CARF rollout The DOF also reported on parallel efforts to improve tax transparency and compliance mechanisms. At the Asia Initiative Meeting, the department shared the country's progress in adopting the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAAC), a multilateral tool for tax assessment and collection cooperation. It also outlined the steps taken to prepare for the Enhanced Monitoring Process, the strengthening of the Exchange of Information (EOI) on request, and the adoption of the Common Reporting Standards (CRS). The Asia Initiative aims to enhance international cooperation on tax transparency and combating illicit financial flows. The Philippines became a member in 2023 and has since been working to align with globally agreed-upon standards. The meeting also marked the launch of the 2025 Tax Transparency in Asia Report, which details regional progress made in applying tax transparency frameworks throughout 2024. Globally, efforts in tax transparency have proven effective. From 2009 to 2024, at least €24 billion ($27 billion) in additional revenue has been identified through EOI, offshore investigations, AEOI (Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information), and related disclosure programs. In 2024 alone, €1.9 billion ($2 billion) in undeclared income was identified through these means. Raising revenue without tax hikes The CARF commitment comes as the Marcos administration reiterates its intention not to introduce new taxes. Instead, it aims to increase state revenue through improved collection and enforcement. This policy direction already has been bearing results, according to the government agency. In April 2024, revenue collection reached PHP522.1 billion ($9 billion), bringing the total for the first four months to PHP1.5 trillion($26 billion). Of this, 94% came from taxes, thanks to an 11.49% increase in tax revenues. The DOF says the digital currency framework complements these efforts by plugging gaps in areas where tax evasion risks are highest. Watch: The Philippines is moving toward blockchain-enabled tech title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">


The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Bungling civil servants face major probe over HS2 fiasco – as project delayed yet again and costs spiral out of control
BUNGLING civil servants could face a major investigation over the HS2 fiasco - as the project is delayed yet again and costs spiral out of control. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander today confirmed there is 'no route' to hitting the 2033 target for trains to run between London and Birmingham. 2 2 And she revealed the Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to consider whether mandarins and public bodies should face a formal probe for their role in the chaos. A source close to Ms Alexander told The Sun: 'We will make sure this mess can never happen again. 'That's why the Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to immediately look at the role of the Civil Service and the wider public sector in HS2 – including whether an investigation is needed.' The high-speed line was originally due to open in 2026 and stretch to Manchester and Leeds - but only the London to Birmingham leg remains, and even that now faces delays of two years or more. Ms Alexander did not confirm a new completion date or cost, which some suggest could exceed £100billion - far above the official £57billion estimate at 2019 prices. She said she was 'drawing a line in the sand' after what she called a 'litany of failure' spanning 15 years, with billions wasted on ineffective contracts, repeated changes, and scrapped designs - including £250million blown on two rejected station plans for Euston. Two reviews published yesterday laid bare the scale of the failure: one by new HS2 boss Mark Wild warned the current scope, schedule and budget were 'unsustainable', while another by infrastructure adviser James Stewart blasted weak oversight and inconsistent ministerial involvement. Ms Alexander said the previous government had pressed ahead with construction contracts despite a 2020 review warning against it, and that a Sunak-era ministerial taskforce for Euston 'never even met.' She promised a reset, with a new 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, fresh governance boards, and the appointment of former TfL boss Mike Brown - who helped deliver Crossrail - as HS2 Ltd's new chair. She told MPs it would take 'a number of months' to confirm a final schedule and budget. But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the whole scheme should be scrapped, blasting: 'Let's scrap HS2, let's use the tens of billions of pounds we can save in the next decade to upgrade railway lines across the entirety of the United Kingdom to the benefit of many millions, and spend the rest on other national priorities.' Ms Alexander hit back: 'We are not going to be a country that spends over £30 billion on rail infrastructure but then never sees a train running on it... "


Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
ONS chief under fire for wearing trans badge
Britain's under-fire chief statistician has been condemned for wearing the 'flag of transgender activism' during her first address to staff. Emma Rourke wore a badge depicting the trans-inclusive Pride banner as she spoke to workers at the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2023, the ONS was humiliated after it was forced to withdraw official statistics which massively inflated the number of trans people in the country. The survey had found that one in 200 people over the age of 16 self-identified as a different gender, but it emerged that many people who did not speak fluent English had misunderstood the question. The office has also been accused of producing misleading data on worklessness, which has made it harder for the Bank of England to control inflation. Ms Rourke took over as acting national statistician earlier this year, after her predecessor retired through ill health. Critics said her decision to wear the flag, which indicates a belief that there are more than two biological sexes and that transwomen are women, was an 'ostentatiously political move'. Civil servants are expected to be impartial under the civil service code and uphold the Nolan Principles of public life, while earlier this year the Supreme Court ruled that transwomen were not legally women. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at women's rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'Wearing the flag of transgender activism during her first address to staff as acting national statistician is an ostentatiously political move by Emma Rourke. 'The civil service code tells civil servants to be impartial. Rourke's actions signal that when it comes to the clash between biological sex and self-defined 'gender identity', she has picked a side. 'Rourke also oversaw the disastrous question on gender identity in the 2021 census, which was worded to appeal to transgender activists and so incomprehensible to many respondents that the results have been classified as unreliable. 'Rourke's appointment as acting National Statistician suggests that the ONS has learnt little or nothing from the census debacle. It will also dishearten the many ONS employees who know that sex is a material fact, and that it matters in official statistics.' The Progress Pride flag, updated to include intersex people in 2021, is based on the rainbow flag but adds other colours - pink, light blue and white - to specifically reference trans people. Ms Rourke took over from Sir Ian Diamond who stepped down last month due to health issues. Before that, she was deputy national statistician for health, population and methods, which meant she oversaw the ONS debacle on sex and gender identity. At her first 'ONS Live' event for all ONS staff, Rourke said she had an 'uncomfortable message' for staff about Sir Robert Devereaux's forthcoming review into ONS culture, expected to be released imminently. She said: 'It is likely to continue to be difficult for us as an organisation – we are experiencing ongoing challenges in being able to stabilise our suite of core statistics.' A spokesman for the ONS said: 'ONS strives to be an inclusive organisation where everyone feels respected. 'We are proud to visibly support all our colleagues, who are delivering ONS statistics with utmost professionalism and impartiality.'