BORIS Johnson’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds and his chief advisor Dominic Cummings have clashed over the Cabinet reshuffle, it is claimed.
Miss Symonds is reportedly backing ministers who say Mr Cummings’ aggressive approach towards ministers, officials and journalists is damaging to the Prime Minister.
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According to the Daily Mail, the rift has been fuelled by reports that Mr Cummings urged Boris to fire Chancellor Sajid Javid and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace – who share close links with Miss Symonds.
It is understood that Boris has refused to sack Sajid Javid in the reshuffle, which is expected this week. It is not yet known, however, if Ben Wallace will be fired.
Chief Tory advisor Dominic Cummings could also fire several ministerial special advisers in the reshuffle – some of whom are closely connected to Miss Symonds.
BOJO CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE
A Treasury source told the Daily Mail: “There was always a risk that Carrie and Dom were going to fall out and that the PM would get caught in the crossfire.
“Dom is trying to run the Government the same way he won the referendum campaign. He doesn’t care who he insults if it makes the Government more effective.
“Carrie is just as determined and is very loyal to her friends.
Carrie, 31, joined the Tory Party as a press officer ten years ago, becoming the director of its communications in 2017.
She has close links to the senior Tories she worked with, including John Whittingdale, Zac Goldsmith and Sajid Javid.
Mr Cummings on the other hand is hailed by Brexiteers for the way he ran the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum.
The Prime Minister has recently been ignoring Mr Cummings’ campaign to scrap the HS2 rail link and appears to want to keep Sajid Javid at the Treasury.
Miss Symonds is also thought to oppose the chief advisor’s obstructive approach towards the media.
He recently banned reporters from a Number 10 briefing who he deemed hostile towards the government, sparking a revolt by Westminster Lobby journalists.
He has also reportedly banned ministers’ special advisers from having lunch with journalists – for fear they will leak stories.
As Miss Symonds has plenty of journalist connections, it is thought this is another likely source of tension for the pair.
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