Thread by @alexwickham

NEW: Dominic Cummings is cracking down on the culture of leaking, disloyalty and laziness under Theresa May

Some think it's a welcome change. Others say it's creating fear and division. Several fear for their jobs

They are calling it a "jihad on SpAds"

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…

3 takeaways for SpAds at 7:55am meeting:

— they're expected to inform on ministers & officials who don't get behind the no deal plan
— main comms strategy is to create narrative that no deal is on
— journalists will "rat out" leakers to No10 (they won't)

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…

No10 has vetoed the appointments of multiple aides and several SpAds fear they will be chopped next

Depending on who you believe, SpAds are being blocked either because Cummings doubted their loyalty to Brexit, their competence or their trustworthiness

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…

Some aides warn No10's hard line is creating a divide in govt between those perceived as loyal to Cummings and Vote Leave, and those who voted Remain

Asked if their job was safe, one adviser replied with this gif: buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…

But there are also aides who say working with Cummings compares favourably to life under Barwell

"I think those complaining don’t like change... We’re in crisis mode, how is it that in the previous administration there wasn’t the same sense of urgency?"

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…

One aide sums up the feeling of working under Cummings for the first time

“He’s like Keyser Soze. There’s a whole myth about what he’s like. No one really knows what he’ll do. Will he sack you? Will he throw you out of a window? You never really know.”

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…

Here’s @Jack_Blanchard_ on the “jihad on SpAds”