{"id":39268,"date":"2020-11-13T15:09:22","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T15:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=39268"},"modified":"2020-11-13T15:09:22","modified_gmt":"2020-11-13T15:09:22","slug":"cummings-to-resign-by-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/cummings-to-resign-by-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Cummings has left Downing Street for the last time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dominic Cummings has left his job as senior advisor to the prime minister.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Downing Street sources made the claim on Thursday night that Cummings was to quit. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed Mr Cummings’ departure the following morning. <\/span><\/p>\n

Original reports claimed that the chief advisor had planned to leave before the end of the year, coinciding with the Brexit transition period coming to an end on December 31st. <\/span><\/p>\n

But as of Friday evening, Cummings has already stood down from his post.<\/span><\/p>\n

He told the <\/span>\u00a0BBC “rumours of me threatening to resign are invented”, after speculation arose throughout the week. But also stated that \u201cmy position hasn\u2019t changed since my January blog\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

In a blog post in January the controversial aide suggested that his role would be \u201clargely redundant\u201d by the end of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Infographic by Jack Sanders (via Canva)<\/p><\/div>\n

“He’ll be missed… but advisers come and go,” the Transport Secretary said,\u00a0<\/span>“In any government, you require people who are going to shake things up and come up with ideas, and he’s actually been that person.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Torie Backbenchers have expressed their criticism over the in-house drama going on behind the scenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale said Mr Cummings had “become a distraction” and a “malign influence at the centre of Downing Street for too long”, going on to suggest “It’s right that he should go.”<\/span><\/p>\n

When interviewed by Sky News another Tory MP Tobias Ellwood said: “Let’s move a little bit away from EastEnders and more to the West Wing.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Many other political and media figures have tweeted their opinions on Mr Cummings exit from Downing Street:<\/span><\/p>\n

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David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham tweeted:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Like rats fleeing a sinking ship. Dominic Cummings has been one of the most malign influences on the British government in modern history. His legacy is one of bullying, deception, hypocrisy and hubris. The super-forecaster who ignored the pandemic. His damage is irreparable.<\/p>\n

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 13, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n