DOMINIC Cummings has claimed that the Prime Minister let Matt Hancock go because he was being bombarded with text messages from his wife Carrie.

The former Downing Street svengali suggested that Boris Johnson’s partner sent him 89 texts an hour to make sure the health secretary lost his job.

On Thursday evening, footage emerged of Hancock kissing his top aide in his office.

On Friday, the Tory leader said he considered the matter “closed” having accepted Hanock’s apology.

But on Saturday the pressure built further, with Tory MPs joining in with the criticism – prompting Hancock’s resignation.

The Prime Minister, who initially said he was “sorry to receive” the resignation, later suggested he sacked the Tory MP from his Cabinet post.

No 10 clarified afterwards that Hancock had indeed resigned.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson says Matt Hancock had to resign – despite backing him three days ago

Responding to the turmoil, Cummings hinted that the decision was the result of pressure from the PM’s wife.

He tweeted: tweeted: “Trolley Fri: Argh, accept apology I consider the matter closed.

“Media/MP babble, 89 Carrie texts p/hour.

“Trolley Sat, SMASH: Arghhh Matt go now you'll be back better stronger shortly matey forward to victory!

“Trolley Mon, CRASH: when I saw the story on Fri we had a new SoS on Sat.”

During a campaigning trip to Batley and Spen this afternoon Johnson broke his silence on Hancock's resignation.

Despite having previously accepted his Tory colleague's apology, the PM performed something of a U-turn when asked if Hancock’s actions had undermined the Government’s coronavirus guidance.

He replied: “That’s right, and that’s why when I saw the story on Friday we had a new Secretary of State for Health in on Saturday.”

Hancock has been replaced by Sajid Javid, who was sacked as chancellor 16 months ago.

READ MORE: Appointment of Sajid Javid 'awful for NHS', Dominic Cummings says

Cummings claimed yesterday that he "tricked" Johnson into firing him and said his appointment would be “awful” for the NHS.

He also suggested the PM's wife had been behind the appointment.

Cummings tweeted: "So Carrie appoints Saj! NB If I hadn't tricked PM into firing Saj, we'd have had a HMT with useless SoS/spads, no furlough scheme, total chaos instead of JOINT 10/11 team which was a big success.

“Saj = bog standard = chasing headlines + failing = awful for NHS. Need #RegimeChange”.