Boris Johnson attacked by ex-aide Dominic Cummings in explosive online tirade
- The former official used a personal blog to make a series of incendiary allegations, including that the PM told his staff to lie to the media this week
- Cummings was the controversial brains behind the 2016 Brexit campaign, and was appointed chief adviser by Johnson when he took power in July 2019
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s former top aide launched an extraordinary tirade Friday after a series of incriminating leaks, claiming the Conservative leader lacks “competence and integrity”.
Dominic Cummings, who stepped down as his top adviser in December, used a personal blog to make a series of incendiary allegations, including that Johnson told his staff to lie to the media this week.
Cummings, a divisive figure who carved out a uniquely powerful role in government, also claimed the prime minister had proposed torpedoing a leak inquiry because its findings might prove problematic with Johnson’s fiancée.
He also said he had warned Johnson against plans to use Conservative Party donations in an “unethical, foolish, possibly illegal” way to renovate his Downing Street apartment.
Cummings was responding to newspaper headlines on Friday reporting that Johnson’s staff blamed the ex-aide for leaking embarrassing text messages, including some that have embroiled billionaire inventor James Dyson in a Westminster lobbying scandal.