More on the internal power struggle raging in No10. I understand that Lee Cain, his current Director of Comms, tendered his resignation last week. Argued that he would be sidelined by the appointment of a new Chief of Staff and new on-air spokeswoman Allegra Stratton (1/5)
Cain told his staff he was going, and didn't return to No10 for several days. One source tells me it amounted to an ultimatum from Cain to the PM - if you sideline me, you lose me. This is what sparked the conversation between them about Cain taking the Chief of Staff role (2/5)
Cain’s promotion is bitterly opposed by others, not least PM’s fiancee and closest unofficial adviser Carrie Symonds. Some say appointment is ”close to done deal” but others say the PM is now very undecided. One source says there is just “a 20% chance of it happening now” (3/5)
Opponents of Cain's appointment are arguing that it would mean the only three people who would then have total access to the PM would all be men - his senior adviser Dominic Cummings, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and Cain (4/5)
No10 sources say Cain hasn't resigned and just took a few days off, but they do not deny he offered his resignation. On record, No10 v tight-lipped. PM's press secretary: "I'm not going to comment on speculation about personnel matters in No10”. More on @TimesRadio now (5/5)
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