Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings contributed to a ‘poisonous and sexist office tradition’ in Downing Avenue (James Manning/PA)
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Cummings left his function as a Chief Advisor to Boris Johnson in November 2020 – however what’s he doing now? What has he mentioned concerning the Covid Inquiry? And what occurred to his relationship with Johnson? Learn on to search out out.
What’s Dominic Cummings doing now?
He has established a e-newsletter on the net platform Substack, the place he shares insights into his time in authorities, the mechanics of Westminster, and his views on numerous subjects, together with the way forward for AI.
He affords free content material on the platform, together with extra items for paying subscribers.
Cummings additionally established a tech consultancy agency, Siwah Ltd, in 2021.
The identify of the enterprise alludes to an Egyptian desert oasis the place Alexander III of Macedon led a military within the fourth century BC.
A follow-up to his former tech consultancy, Dynamic Maps, Cummings is the one director of the corporate listed with Corporations Home.
On high of this, Cummings additionally continues to work as a public speaker and guide, providing recommendation on political communications, administration options, and modern European historical past, together with as an after-dinner speaker.
It had additionally been reported in 2024 that Cummings was getting ready for a brand new political occasion which may substitute the Conservative Occasion following the 2024 common election.
Nevertheless, Cummings later praised Reform UK and deserted requires a brand new occasion, taking a step away from politics.
He advised The Guardian: “I would spend extra time on SW1, relying how issues play out, however I don’t want a job there.
“My efforts will solely be serving to individuals of any occasion pushing in what I take into account a very good course, I’m pleased dwelling away from SW1 and SW1 for certain feels the identical about me.”
What has he mentioned concerning the Covid Inquiry?
When giving in depth proof on the official inquiry, Cummings made sturdy accusations towards former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock, claiming each have been unfit for his or her roles and that tens of 1000’s of individuals died unnecessarily.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson pictured along with his ex-chief adviser Dominic Cummings (Victoria Jones/PA)
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Cummings accused then Prime Minister Johnson of being like an out-of-control procuring trolley, and that he thought of the previous prime minister “unfit” for the place by October 2020.
He additionally mentioned: “Senior ministers, senior officers, senior advisers like me, fell disastrously quick”, and that “tens of 1000’s of individuals died, who did not must die”.
The inquiry’s last report has now concluded that Cummings was a “destabilising affect” who contributed to a “poisonous and sexist” office tradition in Downing Street.
What occurred in his relationship with Boris Johnson?
A vastly highly effective determine in Downing Avenue, Cummings was recognized to be a serious architect of various insurance policies.
Nevertheless, lengthy earlier than his relationship with Boris Johnson broke down, Cummings had been clashing with different personalities inside Number 10, notably Johnson’s associate Carrie Symonds.
Carrie Symonds
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Throughout the Covid outbreak, Cummings was mentioned to be annoyed with Mr Johnson’s delay in ordering a second lockdown in England.
Cummings’ abrasive fashion, aggressive language, and excessive risk-policy strategy didn’t at all times match with how Johnson needed to run Downing Avenue.
Baroness Heather Hallett discovered Boris Johnson didn’t train ‘correct management’ throughout the pandemic (Lucy North/PA)
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Tensions between the pair escalated when Johnson selected former ITV Information house editor Allegra Stratton to take deliberate new televised every day press briefings over Cummings’ ally Lee Cain, resulting in Cain’s resignation.
As their relationship deteriorated, Cummings was broadly believed to be orchestrating a briefing marketing campaign towards Johnson, amid additional claims that Cummings was manoeuvring to affect who would substitute him as Prime Minister.
He expressed important remorse for not firing Cummings sooner, describing him as a “homicidal robotic” and evaluating him to the manipulative Shakespearean villain Iago.
