Power struggle in No 10 as PM’s spin chief Cain quits

LONDON: Downing Street has insisted Boris Johnson remains “absolutely focused” on tackling the coronavirus pandemic despite a bitter power struggle in No 10 leading to the resignation of one of his closest aides.

Lee Cain’s resignation as director of communications meant the Prime Minister was having to perform a shake-up of his top team during the second national lockdown in England and with post-Brexit trade negotiations growing ever closer to the deadline.

He had been offered the post of chief of staff but a backlash among Tories and Johnson’s inner circle ultimately led him on Wednesday to announce his departure from No 10 rather than a promotion. His exit has sparked speculation that he could be followed by Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s top adviser who is seen as the most powerful figure in No 10.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman James Slack, who confirmed he would be replacing Cain when he departs in the new year, insisted that Johnson was not being distracted from the national crisis by the bitter row.

“You’ve seen from the Prime Minister this week that he’s absolutely focused on taking all the steps that are required to equip the country to beat coronavirus,” the spokesman said.

Slack, a former Daily Mail journalist who also served as Theresa May’s official spokesman when she led the country, said he would remain a civil servant when he succeeds Cain. Westminster was on resignation watch for other key figures in Downing Street.

Cummings, a close political ally of the departing communications chief having worked together since the Brexit campaign, was said to be unhappy with the way his friend had been treated. But it is reported he is staying put for now to work on the government’s response to Covid-19 and government sources said Lord Frost will not be standing down as chief Brexit negotiator.

Cummings declined to answer journalists’ questions as he left his home on Thursday morning, while Cain was spotted heading into No 10 clutching a coffee. Conservative backbencher Sir Roger Gale told the PA news agency: “The government, and Downing Street particularly, should be concentrating all of its efforts on the pandemic and on the end game of Brexit, and frankly this is a distraction that cannot and should not be allowed to take place and the Prime Minister has got to get a grip on it.” In his resignation statement, Cain confirmed he had been offered a promotion to the key position of the Prime Minister’s chief of staff. The move – which would have meant he was one of just a handful of people in No 10 with direct one-to-one access to Johnson – was seen as entrenching the grip of the Vote Leave faction on the Downing Street operation.

However it ran into immediate resistance, with Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds – who has clashed in the past with Cummings – reportedly strongly opposed to the appointment. Ms Symonds is a former Tory press chief who has served as a special adviser in previous governments.

Allegra Stratton, the former broadcaster brought in to host televised No 10 news conferences from next year, was also said to have objected to the appointment.

In his resignation statement, Cain – a former tabloid journalist – said he had decided to resign as communications director after “careful consideration”.

He said it was an “honour” to have been offered the post of chief of staff and he thanked the Prime Minister for his “loyalty and leadership”.

In response, Johnson paid tribute to Cain’s “extraordinary service” to the government over the past four years and described him as a “true ally and friend”.

The latest manoeuvrings come amid growing unhappiness among increasing numbers of Conservative MPs at the performance of No 10 and its handling of the Covid-19 outbreak.—PA