Corkman appointed as Keir Starmer's chief of staff

Ms Gray confirmed her resignation, saying that she was stepping down from the role over fears she was “becoming a distraction” to Mr Starmer’s government.

There had been reports of tensions between Mr McSweeney and Ms Gray in recent weeks, alongside reports about Ms Gray having a higher salary than the UK Prime Minister.

While Mr McSweeney was initially from Macroom, he has been a longtime member of the UK Labour Party having left for England after his Leaving Cert.

He came into the party during the New Labour era, progressing throughout the party apparatus before forming the Labour Together think-thank – which aimed at pushing back against Corbynism within the party.

He ran Mr Starmer’s 2020 leadership campaign, becoming his chief of staff for just over a year before moving into a different role following the party’s worst ever byelection result.

While he moved out of the top role, Mr McSweeney was widely regarded as one of Mr Starmer’s top aides.

After the Labour landslide in June, with the party back in power for the first time in over a decade, Mr McSweeney became head of political strategy.

But now, nearly 100 days since Labour returned to power he is taking up the most senior political appointee role in the UK.

Ms Gray will now take up a role as Mr Starmer’s new envoy for regions and nations.

Mr Starmer thanked her for her work and support in both “opposition and government”, particularly highlighting the works she did to prepare Labour for government.