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Boris Johnson’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings has only been working for the prime minister for a few weeks, and sources say he will be leaving in mid-December.
Cummings fueled speculation that he had already cleared his desk when he was spotted leaving number 10 with a box on Friday night.
But why?
– What happened?
Dominic Cummings says he always intended to leave at the end of the year, and had predicted such a plan in a blog he wrote in January, but all the signs are that his time has changed after losing in a power struggle between internal members. of the Prime Minister. circle.
It is believed that he wanted his close ally Lee Cain, the 10th communications director, to be appointed Johnson’s chief of staff.
But the proposed measure angered many high-ranking conservatives, and, it is said, the prime minister’s fiancée Carrie Symonds, who were alarmed at the prospect of Cummings expanding his influence.
When this did not work, Mr. Cain, who feared that he would be sidelined with the appointment of Allegra Stratton as the new press secretary, announced that he would resign.
– What did Mr. Cummings do?
Mr. Cummings says that the reports that he threatened to resign on the spot are an “invention”, but he was clearly very unhappy about what happened.
In just over 24 hours, he told the BBC that he would be coming later this year.
He said his “position has not changed since my January blog” in which he said he expected to be “largely redundant” by 2021.
The Palestinian Authority news agency understands that both he and Cain, who resigned as communications chief, will continue to work until mid-December, although reports suggested that Cummings would work from home.
– Why do people make such a fuss because an advisor is leaving?
Cummings was seen as more powerful than most ministers, wielding control over the government’s agenda, and demanding iron discipline from Whitehall’s army of special advisers.
As director of the Vote Leave campaign, he is considered the mastermind behind the 2016 Brexit referendum result and credited with having played a key role in the victory of last year’s general election.
But his harsh demeanor and open disregard for MPs and officials earned him many enemies in Westminster, who will not regret that he is leaving.
– What effect will his departure have?
It’s unclear, although some in Westminster predict it will lead to a less conflictual style of government with a greater focus on issues like climate change and building bridges with decentralized administrations.
Disgruntled Conservative MPs, who have felt ignored by the number 10 since the election, will hope Downing Street will begin to include them.
Big moment: Boris now has the opportunity to achieve a more harmonious and effective Downing Street operation (like the one he had at City Hall); improve relations with the parliamentary party; and lead a less conflictual and unifying government that better reflects their own character
– Gavin Barwell (@GavinBarwell) November 13, 2020
Others hope that there will be less inclination on the part of the government to start fights in a variety of institutions, from the BBC and the general media to the judiciary.
Whether it works that way remains to be seen.
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