Cummings has gone for good. Downing Street is suggesting this morning that the relationship between the PM and his senior adviser "went off a cliff" yesterday. The surprising thing is that he lasted so long. He was not the genius he or Johnson thought he was, just a very convincing con man who convinced two gullible men, Gove included as well as Johnson, that he was some kind of miracle worker. Persuading a narrow majority about the illusory benefits of Brexit by a series of lies is not a miracle. It's what con merchants do. The surprise is that Johnson and Gove thought that kind of prestidigitation qualified Cummings to be given free rein over huge policy decisions. Gas lighting half the electorate is not a sustainable or useful political philosophy.
The FT seem to have all the details as can be seen in this tweet:
Honestly truly WHAT https://t.co/QUR2SXfpuJ pic.twitter.com/S8u9BWPgkB
— Janine Gibson (@janinegibson) November 13, 2020
Although he and Lee Cain were kicked unceremoniously out of Downing Street last night it is not expected that Cummings will remain silent:
💥 Inside No10 with @GeorgeWParker:Dominic Cummings left No10 for the last time following a “day of tantrums” and concerns the former aide might turn against Boris Johnson."I won’t be surprised if there’s an explosive stunt between now and Christmas"https://t.co/yOKZqBn2t2— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) November 13, 2020
The Telegraph have a story: Dominic Cummings exits Number 10 with parting shot at Boris Johnson, about Cummings disputing the events and saying he and Johnson had a "laugh" but the article also claims
"After Mr Cummings resigned on Thursday evening, allies had complained of "dithering" by Mr Johnson, saying they had to go round him to Mr Gove to get decisions made.
"They are also known to have spread rumours that Mr Johnson had lost his powers of concentration after being hospitalised with coronavirus earlier in the year, and that Ms Symonds 'bombards' him with texts setting out her opinions on policy up to 25 times per hour.
"Sources said Mr Johnson was particularly riled by newspaper reports of Ms Symonds being referred to by nicknames including 'Princess nut nuts' by Cummings loyalists."
Expect more of the same in the coming days and weeks. The burning question is will it make any difference to Brexit. Mujtaba Rahman thinks it might and appears to detect a change in mood as he tweeted that
So. Hearing that UK was a bit more open/constructive on state aid/LPF discussion today.This something Cumming's opposedCoincidence?— Mujtaba Rahman (@Mij_Europe) November 13, 2020
Downing Street played down any suggestion of a change of tack but I suppose it is possible there were disagreements about policy. It's a coincidence that the row blows up just as the trade talks reach a critical phase. Johnson and Gove are under huge pressure. There are no easy options in the next few days.
I heard this morning on Radio 4 small businesses that are not prepared for Brexit at all - because, one claimed, they didn't know what to prepare for. Actually, they do but they simply haven't looked and can't be bothered. The massive increase in paperwork, bureaucracy and costs will come as a shock to many and I'm not even sure the government realises how much damage this will do to British exports to the EU next year.
The government has few options:
- Capitulate on the LPF and governance and get a small concession on fish
- Agree an extension to carry on the talks
- Walk away and trade on WTO terms