Dominic Cummings has left Downing Street after internal battles over his role as Boris Johnson’s chief adviser.
The BBC understands he will continue to work from home, on issues such as mass coronavirus testing, until the middle of December.
The prime minister is said to want to “clear the air and move on”.
Mr Cummings has been at the heart of a No 10 power struggle, which has also seen communications director Lee Cain leave.
Beth Rigby tweeted: “I am told the PM asked Cain and Cummings to leave today because of their ‘general behaviour.
One insider tells me “the PM was uncomfortable with them being the in building”
Cain is PM’s longest serving advisor. This is a particularly brutal way to exit
As per @Steven_Swinford am told the PM asked Cain and Cummings to leave today because of their ‘general behaviour.
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) November 13, 2020
One insider tells me “the PM was uncomfortable with them being the in building”
Cain is PM’s longest serving advisor. This is a particularly brutal way to exit https://t.co/Bf7RTESBIV
Several Tory MPs have welcomed the pair’s departure as a chance for Mr Johnson to make a fresh start.
The BBC’s Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Cummings departure from No 10 had been brought forward given the “upset in the team” in Downing Street, for which she said it had been a “difficult week”.
Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain are long-time colleagues, having worked together on the Leave campaign during the EU referendum.
When Mr Cain’s exit was announced on Wednesday, it prompted rumours that his ally would also step down.
In response, Mr Cummings told the BBC “rumours of me threatening to resign are invented” but said his “position hasn’t changed” since he wrote in January that he wanted to make himself “largely redundant” by the end of 2020.
It is believed Boris Johnson has asked Sir Edward Lister to take on the role of chief of staff for an interim period pending a permanent appointment to the post.
#staged #cummings #pantomime
Twitter is having a storm suggesting the entire over the top flounce was staged, Panto season has started early this year. This storey seems far from over. #staged#cummings#pantomime
