Dominic Cummings launches his latest criticism of Whitehall


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Dominic Cummings has launched his latest criticism of those in Government, claiming that, if decision-making in Whitehall was publicised, “everyone would sell everything and head for the bunker in the hills”.

Boris Johnson’s former chief aide made the comments on Monday in an online question and answer session, which subscribers must pay to access. It’s the latest in his sustained war of words with the prime minister.

Cummings called Johnson a “gaffe machine” last week, just days after releasing text messages from the early stages of the pandemic in which the prime minister apparently said health secretary Matt Hancock was “totally f****** hopeless”.

Boris Johnson visit to Huddersfield
The Prime Minister’s former chief aide made the comments on Monday (Oli Scraff/PA)
Heading for a “bunker in the hills”

Cummings, who left Downing Street in November following a behind-the-scenes power struggle, recently launched a profile on Substack, a platform that allows people to charge for newsletters.

In response to a question on his experience of being “close to power and the opportunities it provided”, Cummings said: “Fascinating but very troubling”. He said:

The world is so dangerous, there are so many very smart and able people – when you watch the apex of power you feel like ‘If this were broadcast, everyone would sell everything and head for the bunker in the hills’.

Read on...

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In his latest attack on Whitehall, he added that it is “impossible to describe how horrific decision-making is at the apex of power” and that it is

generally the blind leading the blind.

“Clueless”

On Friday, Cummings claimed that Tory officials did not put Johnson up for an interview with veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil during the 2019 general election campaign because he was “clueless” on policy.

The Conservative Party leader was accused of “running scared” from scrutiny when he dodged the one-to-one BBC interview with Neil, who is now chairman of GB News.

Cummings claimed to reveal the strategy behind this in a Twitter rant against political pundits, writing: “Pundits: not doing ANeil ‘a huge campaign blunder’.

“Me: why the f*** wd [we] put a gaffe machine clueless about policy & government up to be grilled for ages, upside=0 for what?! This is not a hard decision.

“Fiction”?

Asked about the remarks, a Downing Street spokesman said on Friday:

Of course that is not a characterisation that we would accept.

Earlier that week, Cummings used a blog post to accuse Johnson of publicly supporting the “fiction” that he has been in agreement with Hancock throughout the crisis.

The former chief aide argued that the messages showed otherwise, as did moves by the prime minister to carve up some of Hancock’s responsibilities and hand them to others.

Cummings published one screenshot from WhatsApp in which the prime minister described the health secretary as “totally f****** hopeless” in an exchange about coronavirus testing.

In another message about struggles to procure ventilators, Johnson responded: “It’s Hancock. He has been hopeless.”

Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Monday, Hancock acknowledged that people say “all sorts of things in private” when they are under pressure, but insisted that he and Johnson work “very strongly together”.

Story via PA news agency

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  • Show Comments

    1. I suppose someone has to start. Is Cummings a ‘reliable witness’.?. Do we take the word of a fraud and liar and chancer?. We know Johnson is a liar. We didn’t need Cummings to tell us. Cummings has his own agenda. We should not feed it in order to cast aspersions on Johnson. All you need is this.

      Here’s a quote from the journalist Tim Walker; I worked on the same paper as Johnson for 12 years – and, take it from me, it’s best to start off with the assumption he’s a selfish, lying, useless pillock. It saves a lot of time. 😁.

      Both Johnson and Cummings are perpetrators of dodgy contracts, That is enough. An investigation into Dodgy contracts is needed. Talking of dodgy contracts, this is where Dido comes in. Angling for the job of head of NHS. How many dodgy contracts will ensue.

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      1. Mmmm, The place to start might better be ‘Is anyone a reliable witness’? The Tory Party of Death is composed of fraudsters and liars and chancers. As for Joris Bohnson, just read his leaked Eton report revealing a practised criminal on the make & at speed. That the Party of Death welcomed him in says it all. That the Butcher’s bimbo fought with Cummings & turned him into a snitch is good for us.

        The Good Law Project is winning court cases (I’m helping them) that reveals the deep seated corruption that is UKania’s government – the most corrupt ever & one of the worlds worst.

        The NHS has been destroyed & replaced with the National Covid Service as the current Cash Cow for Chums. Dildo Harding is the next logical step to replace the American Insurance creep there now. Face it, UKania is swirling around in the Slough of Despond & Sewer of Despair, sinking hour by hour & the masses ask ‘When are the pubs opening’ ?

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