BORIS Johnson is facing criticism from Tory MPs over speculation he could appoint a former Vote Leave campaign chief as his Downing Street chief of staff.
The Prime Minister may appoint Lee Cain, who is currently his communications director, to the pivotal role after criticism from some Tory MPs over how the Government has handled a number of policy and Covid-related situations, it was claimed.
Cain, a former journalist, was a prominent member of the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 EU membership referendum.
He worked with Johnson when he was foreign secretary and was involved in his campaign to succeed Theresa May as prime minister.
Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings is reportedly not interested in obtaining the post of chief of staff.
Johnson has faced criticism from some Tory backbenchers in recent months that the Government’s strategy on dealing with the coronavirus crisis and other issues has not been co-ordinated or thought through enough.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, a senior Tory backbencher, said MPs needed somebody to “get hold of” in the seat of power.
Declining to comment on speculation about Cain, Geoffrey said: “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.
“I think it is a good thing that somebody would keep an overall view on it.
“I think it’s important to have a chief of staff.”
The BBC reported suggestions that Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, was “unhappy” about such a move for Cain.
4. Downing Street, nor Cain, nor Symonds making any comment but it's all getting very messy
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) November 11, 2020
5. Usual irony alert - Downing Street finds itself in disorderly process over trying to create order
A Number 10 spokesman said: “I’m not going to comment on the speculation today about personnel matters in Number 10 I’m afraid.”
Cain caused a stir earlier in the year when political journalists boycotted a Downing Street briefing after he banned selected reporters, including those from Scottish titles, from attending.
READ MORE: Media boycott after Scottish titles are snubbed by Downing Street
The snub was pointed out by The Scotsman’s former Westminster correspondent Paris Gourtsoyannis after several political reporters and editors from London-based newspapers were also banned from the meeting – which prompted a boycott by many other publications.
Cain tried to exclude reporters from the Mirror, the i, HuffPost, PoliticsHome, the Independent and others from an official government briefing. Labour accused Johnson of deploying Donald Trump-like tactics to avoid scrutiny.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel