Dominic Cummings: Politicians react to senior adviser's departure from Number 10
Boris Johnson asked his senior adviser to step down today with immediate effect, along with head of broadcast Lee Cain.
Friday 13 November 2020 19:47, UK
Politicians from all sides have welcomed the departure of Boris Johnson's senior adviser.
It includes MPs from within the Conservative camp, who had hailed the departure amid a bitter power struggle in Number 10 as a good opportunity for a party "reset".
Senior Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin
Earlier he said it is time to restore "respect, integrity and trust", which he said have been "lacking in recent months" between Number 10 and Tory MPs.
"It's an opportunity to reset how the government operates and to emphasise some values about what we want to project as a Conservative Party in government," the chair of the Commons liaison committee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Nobody is indispensable."
Tory peer and Theresa May's ex-chief of staff Gavin Barwell
Mr Barwell said Cummings' departure was a "big moment".
He tweeted: "Boris now has an opportunity to get a more harmonious, effective Downing Street operation (like he had at City Hall); improve relations with the parliamentary party; and lead a less confrontational, more unifying government that better reflects his own character."
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey
He tweeted: "Not before time".
Shadow Lord Chancellor David Lammy
Mr Lammy said: "Donald Trump defeated and soon out of the White House.
"Vaccine breakthrough. Dominic Cummings carrying boxes out of Number 10.
"The crisis we are living through is catastrophic, but my god, it is good to feel hope once again."
Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale
The former leader of the Liberal Democrats said: "Cummings may have gone, but let's never forget that the worst part of the whole Barnard Castle affair was the way Conservative ministers shamelessly lined up to defend him saying 'it's what any loving father would have done' while millions made huge sacrifices by staying at home."
Leader of the Scottish National Party Ian Blackford
He said Cummings was abandoning the prime minister "like rats on a sinking ship - just as the UK faces a devastating extreme Brexit, a second wave of coronavirus, and a growing Tory unemployment crisis".
He added: "It tells you everything you need to know about this arrogant, incompetent and self-serving Tory government that they are ditching their responsibilities at the exact moment their reckless decisions are causing the maximum damage to people across the UK."
Conservative MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell
He told Sky News: "I'm worried that it might signal a sell-out on the Brexit deal, but I also feel that Dominic Cummings needed to move on as its all becoming too chaotic in Number 10. Boris needs a big relaunch for 2021."
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage
The news was met with concern from pro-Brexit figures. Mr Farage said the move showed a "Brexit sell-out is close".
He tweeted: "It is well documented that I have never liked Dominic Cummings but he has backed Brexit.
"Seeing him leave Number 10 carrying a cardboard box tells me a Brexit sell-out is close".