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Downing Street sources condemned the “vicious and cowardly” attacks on Carrie Symonds, the prime minister’s fiancée, for a series of toxic reports and counter-reports that have rocked the number 10.
Experts claimed that Symonds, a former Conservative adviser, was becoming too involved in the running of No. 10, and the 32-year-old was perceived as seeking to “run the government on WhatsApp” from the prime minister’s official residence. A high-level source at issue 10 described the claims as “cowardly, vicious and designed to hurt her.”
It came as sources claimed that many Downing Street staff believe Johnson will have resigned before the next election, and a high-level insider said: “Most don’t think he will be there in a year.”
The war of words followed the departure of No. 10 by Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s senior aide, and Lee Cain, his communications director, after a bitter power struggle with Symonds, who urged Johnson to overthrow them.
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Chris Jackson / POOL VIA AP
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is understood to be furious at the briefings against his partner Carrie Symonds.
On Sunday, a leading source claimed that Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister and Johnson’s former rival for Conservative leadership, saw the chaos “as an opportunity to get Boris out,” adding: “He believes he still has another chance to become a PM. “
A government source dismissed the claim as “complete nonsense.”
The dramatic claims came as:
- Johnson prepared to embark on a major effort to repair relations with disgruntled MPs, including with invitations for MPs to join Downing Street policy working groups, and plans for the Prime Minister to spend more time with the MPs in the Commons Tea Room and No. 10
- Allegra Stratton, Johnson’s new senior spokeswoman, insisted to the Telegraph that she was a “Johnson Tory” and voted for Brexit, after her conservative credentials were questioned and it emerged that she had once considered a job offer from David Miliband, the then Secretary of Foreign Labor Relations
- The prime minister was facing a growing revolt over Covid-19 restrictions, with more than 30 MPs supporting the current lockdown joining the new Covid Recovery Group, which opposes an extension of the measures.
- It was learned that Downing Street postponed a decision on whether to decriminalize non-payment of the television license fee for fear the measure would lead to sheriffs harassing the elderly.
Johnson is understood to be furious at the briefings against Symonds, who has been the subject of press reports that Cummings loyalists call her a “Mad Princess” among other nicknames.
A 10th senior source admitted that Symonds made clear his views to Johnson about “his office” and “his team,” which included opposing Cain’s appointment as chief of staff, “because he has opinions on the type of staff. man who knows what he is “. .
But the source insisted: “I would not try to think that he has more experience than the official advice he has just been given.”
Kirsty O’Connor / PA via AP
Dominic Cummings left his post as top adviser to the prime minister in a week of toxic reporting and counter-appeals.
However, one high-level expert said that Symonds seemed “determined” to play an important role in the functioning of the government, “and that is the heart of the problem.” The source said she clearly had strong views on the “total change in number 10,” adding that the former conservative communications director is perceived to “want to run the government on WhatsApp from the ground.”
The informant assured: “There are a series of meetings, decisions are made, then the PM goes up to the floor, then from 9 at night WhatsApp messages begin to arrive with him changing his mind.
“No decision is final.”
Insiders allege that Symonds has been responsible for a series of U-turns in the government. However, a Downing Street source said: “These claims are ridiculous.”
Another No. 10 source compared her involvement in government work to the relationship between Theresa May and her husband Sir Philip, while the couple was at No. 10.
“If I had to make big decisions, I’d go talk to Philip … It’s a good thing, it’s not surprising, and she’s very good at these things.”
But another source said Symonds used the flat “as a kind of private office.”
Meanwhile, the expert predicted that Rishi Sunak would be Prime Minister in six months and said of Johnson: “No one at No. 10 believes he will be there in 2024. Most do not believe he will be there in a year.”
Tensions between Johnson and his chancellor are also alleged to be escalating over the prime minister’s spending demands. A 10th source insisted: “No one in their right mind is thinking about elections. The Prime Minister’s approach is to fight the coronavirus and protect jobs.”
This week, after installing Lord Udny-Lister, the No. 10’s top strategic adviser, as acting chief of staff, Johnson will seek to get disgruntled MPs “back into the fold,” including with invitations to join Downing’s task forces. Street on the Union and the Conservative Political Agenda to “level” the country.
No. 10 also plans to revive the Downing Street policy board, with Neil O’Brien, an influential endorsement, touted as a possible president.
This week, Johnson will seek to return to his national policy agenda with a major speech on climate change.
Stratton faced claims that she was not a “true conservative,” and was outbid by a rival candidate in an interview process for the spokesperson position, which was overseen by Cummings, Cain and the No. 10 officials.
But insiders claim that Johnson appointed nonetheless, with the backing of Symonds. Stratton, who will host regularly televised press conferences at No. 10, said The Sunday Telegraph: “I voted for Brexit. And I voted for the Conservatives. In my youth, I think I voted for the Greens, I voted for Labor, I voted for LibDem. But I am definitely Brexit and a Johnson Tory.”
He confirmed that he considered a job offer from Miliband, the foreign secretary between 2007 and 2010, when he was 20 years old and working in The Guardian, saying, “It is true that David offered me a job while I was in The Guardian and he was Secretary of Foreign Relations, and I did not accept it. “
Meanwhile, Damian Green, a former deputy prime minister, and Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, are among the new recruits for the Covid Recovery Group, which is expected to oppose further closures. Both MPs backed the current lockdown, which will end on December 2, but conservative supporters worry that scientific advisers may still push for an extension.
