By Tony O’Riley-
Boris Johnson’s communications director Lee Cain has dramatically resigned following a bitter Downing Street power struggle.
Lee Cain announced he would step down as director of communications on Wednesday night after ministers and advisers including Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, are said to have protested over his planned promotion to chief of staff.
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Cain’s resignation has also led to speculation over the future of Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s most senior and high-profile adviser, with one insider telling the Guardian that he could depart No 10 alongside Cain.
Cummings was furious that Cain, a fellow Vote Leave campaigner who was partly credited with bringing him into No 10, had in effect been forced out.
The journalist said that after “careful consideration” he had decided to leave No 10 at the end of the year. The move comes less than 24 hours after it was reported that he was to be promoted to the key position of the Prime Minister’s chief of staff. There are also reports that the prime minister’s fiancee likely influenced Cain’s decision to step down.
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About a week ago Johnson offered the new chief of staff position to Cain, 39, who was regarded as one of his most loyal and low-key longstanding staffers, and the adviser had been considering whether he should accept.
Cain apparently been thinking about leaving Downing Street “once the government had got over the hump of Covid” – partly because of clashes with the incoming Downing Street spokeswoman Allegra Stratton. That changed when Johnson made his unexpected offer.
Cain was also uncomfortable with the choice of Stratton, also 39, for press secretary and he had previously clashed with Symonds.
Mr Cain was a close ally of Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s chief adviser, having worked with him on the Brexit campaign..
In a statement announcing his resignation, Mr Cain said he was leaving despite having been offered the chief of staff post.
“After careful consideration I have this evening resigned as No 10 director of communications and will leave the post at the end of the year,” he said.
Boris Johnson alongside Lee Cain during last autumn’s general election campaign. Boris Johnson alongside Lee Cain during last autumn’s general election campaign. Boris Johnson alongside Lee Cain during last autumn’s general election campaign.
Boris Johnson alongside Lee Cain during last autumn’s general election campaign (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
“It has been a privilege to work as an adviser for Mr Johnson for the last three years – being part of a team that helped him win the Tory leadership contest, secure the largest Conservative majority for three decades – and it was an honour to be asked to serve as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.
“I would like to thank all the team at No 10 – including the many unsung and incredibly talented civil servants – for their hard work and support during the last 18 months.
“And most of all I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his loyalty and leadership.”
Mr Johnson paid tribute to Mr Cain’s “extraordinary service” to the Government over the past four years.
“He has been a true ally and friend and I am very glad that he will remain director of communications until the new year and to help restructure the operation,” he said. “He will be much missed.”
After the 2016 referendum, Mr Cain joined Mr Johnson as a special adviser when he was made foreign secretary by Theresa May.
He stuck with Mr Johnson when he quit two years later over Mrs May’s proposed Brexit deal and worked on his campaign to succeed her as Tory leader.
Mr Cain’s departure comes amid growing unhappiness among Conservative MPs at the performance of No 10 and its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, a senior member of the influential Tory backbench 1922 Committee, said Mr Johnson needed someone who could act as a link with the party in Parliament.
“I think it is essential for the Prime Minister to have a chief of staff – somebody we can get hold of if we really need to,” he told the PA news agency.
Labour Sir Keir Starmer said that on the day official Government figures showed coronavirus deaths had passed 50,000, Downing Street should be focusing on getting the disease under control and not internal power struggles.
“I think on the day when we’ve reached this grim milestone in relation to the number of people who have died from Covid-19, the idea of power struggles going on behind the doors of No 10 is not what the public want to hear,” he said.
“They want to know that everybody in No 10, everybody in Government, is focusing on getting the virus under control.”
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