Chris Mason: Why it was always likely Sue Gray would go

I am told – by sources that have been consistently reliable through all of this – that a decision was made on Friday and the prime minister was willing to sack Sue Gray.

He had decided, whatever she said, that she could no longer be his chief of staff.

In the end they were able to find a mutually convenient role into which she could be demoted.

And make no mistake, it is a massive demotion, into a part-time job that didn’t previously exist.

As it happens, there is a Council of the Nations and Regions happening on Friday at which the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, the first and deputy first ministers of Northern Ireland, and mayors from around England will gather.

The prime minister will be there and so, I’m told, we should expect Sue Gray to be too.

But after that we shouldn’t expect to see Sue Gray and the prime minister together very often – her time in Downing Street is now over.

In truth, many in government had felt privately for some time her position was increasingly untenable – and will hope her ousting and the wider rejig will sharpen the government’s sense of purpose and cut the number of own goals.

A party that was ruthlessly well prepared for the election has looked rather less prepared for the realities of government.

The promotion of Morgan McSweeney as Ms Gray’s replacement and the arrival of James Lyons, a former political journalist turned communications director in both the public and private sector, are likely to give the operation a sharper political edge.