🔴 LIVE: Dominic Cummings to 'damage Boris Johnson as much as possible' as he appears before MPs
Follow all the latest updates on our politics liveblog here 👇
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Follow all the latest updates on our politics liveblog here 👇
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Peter Cardwell, a special adviser, said Cummings will look to "damage Boris Johnson and the Government as much as possible".
Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale said: "The Twitter stream coming out from Mr Cummings in recent days suggests he doesn't plan to take prisoners"
Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale said: "The Twitter stream coming out from Mr Cummings in recent days suggests he doesn't plan to take prisoners"
However Grant Shapps sought to downplay the likely outcome, saying: "He has probably tweeted most of what he is going to say already, meanwhile we are getting on with the job"
Live updates 👇telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Live updates 👇telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
"Clearly he wants to damage the Prime Minister... [but] it might be more noisy than effective," said Sir Craig Oliver, former adviser to David Cameron.
Oliver also noted that Mr Cummings has a "credibility problem".
📌 Dominic Cummings will appear before MPs from 9:30am
Oliver also noted that Mr Cummings has a "credibility problem".
📌 Dominic Cummings will appear before MPs from 9:30am
Dominic Cummings will on Wednesday allege that Boris Johnson once said "Covid is only killing 80-year-olds" when delaying lockdown last autumn, ITV News has reported
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings is expected to spend up to four hours giving evidence to MPs today.
What exactly is he likely to be asked today and what is he likely to say?
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
What exactly is he likely to be asked today and what is he likely to say?
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
The former special adviser might find himself sitting uncomfortably in front of MPs on Wednesday if his maths is put to the test
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings has teased his upcoming appearance this morning with this photo, he promised "details later".
Cummings will appear before MPs from 9:30am.
Live updates: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings will appear before MPs from 9:30am.
Live updates: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
🔴Dominic Cummings is now making appearing before MPs.
He is expected to make a series of explosive claims about his old boss Boris Johnson.
You can watch live here:
He is expected to make a series of explosive claims about his old boss Boris Johnson.
You can watch live here:
Greg Clark welcomes Dominic Cummings to give evidence
Greg Clark, the chair of the science and technology committee, has called the session to order saying he hopes this inquiry will be "complementary" to the public inquiry ordered by Boris Johnson
Greg Clark, the chair of the science and technology committee, has called the session to order saying he hopes this inquiry will be "complementary" to the public inquiry ordered by Boris Johnson
Dominic Cummings begins: "The truth is that senior officials, senior advisers like me fell disastrously short of the standards the public has a right to expect... when the public needed us most, the Government failed"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings says when the pandemic started he thought "is this it - is this what people have been warning about".
But Public Health England and others were "not ringing alarm bells".
In retrospect it is obvious that "many institutions failed"
But Public Health England and others were "not ringing alarm bells".
In retrospect it is obvious that "many institutions failed"
The Western world "just completely failed to see the smoke".
He says on Jan 25 he spoke to No. 10 about "pandemic planning" and sought assurances from Hancock about "where we are", which he received.
"I did not follow up on this and push it in the way I should have done"
He says on Jan 25 he spoke to No. 10 about "pandemic planning" and sought assurances from Hancock about "where we are", which he received.
"I did not follow up on this and push it in the way I should have done"
Cummings says it is "tragic" that he did not push people further when he was told pandemic planning was "top of the risk agenda".
If he had, he would have learned that claims they were prepared were "completely hollow", he tells MPs.
Watch live:
If he had, he would have learned that claims they were prepared were "completely hollow", he tells MPs.
Watch live:
Cummings says "in no way shape or form" did the Government act as though the pandemic was the most important thing in "February, let alone January".
There was "no sense of urgency" until the last week of February
There was "no sense of urgency" until the last week of February
Dominic Cummings tells MPs he was working on things like "getting to grips with the procurement system" as well as the science and technology policy.
But "we had to bin" that because of the procurement problems relating to the pandemic
But "we had to bin" that because of the procurement problems relating to the pandemic
The first 10 days of February were given over to HS2 and the reshuffle, before "the Prime Minister and other people went off on holiday"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Asked if he attended the early Cobra meetings, he says he's "not sure", but does not believe he did.
Asked why he did not attend or advise Johnson to do so, he says he had one-to-ones with Whitty and Vallance.
"Lots of Cobra meetings are just going through Power Point slides"
Asked why he did not attend or advise Johnson to do so, he says he had one-to-ones with Whitty and Vallance.
"Lots of Cobra meetings are just going through Power Point slides"
Another reason he did not attend Cobra is because of the extent of leaks.
"Leaking from Cobra - leaking from practically everything,"
"When I wanted to have sensitive conversations that I didn't want to see appear in the media, I did not have those conversations in Cobra"
"Leaking from Cobra - leaking from practically everything,"
"When I wanted to have sensitive conversations that I didn't want to see appear in the media, I did not have those conversations in Cobra"
In February, Johnson regarded Covid as "just a scare story - like swine flu", says Cummings
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
❌Analysis: The unfinished business between Dominic Cummings and Greg Clark
'Clark’s skeptical eye and gentle pressing of Cummings has already produced several new facts about what was going on behind the scenes as Johnson grappled with the pandemic,' @Tony_Diver writes
'Clark’s skeptical eye and gentle pressing of Cummings has already produced several new facts about what was going on behind the scenes as Johnson grappled with the pandemic,' @Tony_Diver writes
❌Analysis: Dominic Cummings looks to counter claims he is not taking responsibility
'One thing that jumps out already in the hearing is that Cummings is willing to take a degree of responsibility for failings in the Government’s initial pandemic response,' writes @benrileysmith
'One thing that jumps out already in the hearing is that Cummings is willing to take a degree of responsibility for failings in the Government’s initial pandemic response,' writes @benrileysmith
Greg Clark, chair of the science and technology committee, asks why Cummings changed his blog to include reference to coronavirus.
Dominic Cummings says "not a single letter" was changed, and reports suggesting otherwise are "false"
Dominic Cummings says "not a single letter" was changed, and reports suggesting otherwise are "false"
🔴Government's pandemic planning, tweeted by Dominic Cummings, shows officials and ministers asked themselves: “Who do we not save?”
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Herd immunity was thought 'inevitable' - the only question was timing.
"No one is saying they want this to happen, the point is this was seen as inevitable - you would either have herd immunity in September after the first peak or in January after the second peak," he says
"No one is saying they want this to happen, the point is this was seen as inevitable - you would either have herd immunity in September after the first peak or in January after the second peak," he says
"Of course no one wanted this to happen.. the point was herd immunity was regarded as an unavoidable fact," says Cummings.
Jeremy Hunt asks about a statement by Hancock ruling out herd immunity, Cummings says it is "completely wrong"
Jeremy Hunt asks about a statement by Hancock ruling out herd immunity, Cummings says it is "completely wrong"
No one drew 'obvious conclusion' that pubs should shut in early March.
Cummings says there were "increasing alarm bells" at the start of March.
He started to get "very smart people" in late Feb saying things were going wrong and "we are going to have to lockdown"
Cummings says there were "increasing alarm bells" at the start of March.
He started to get "very smart people" in late Feb saying things were going wrong and "we are going to have to lockdown"
Dominic Cummings is asked about the whiteboard picture he tweeted this morning.
He says it was put together after some in his team said the original plan was "mad".
He says he and others had "mounting panic about the whole thing"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
He says it was put together after some in his team said the original plan was "mad".
He says he and others had "mounting panic about the whole thing"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings said it "became clear" on March 11 that there was "push back from the system" against advising that people stay at home if they have symptoms.
He says they were delaying it "because there is not a proper plan in place".
He says there was "no logic" to it beyond that
He says they were delaying it "because there is not a proper plan in place".
He says there was "no logic" to it beyond that
❌Analysis: Dominic Cummings opens with humble approach - but will it continue?
'It is striking to hear Cummings describe himself as someone who is " not a smart person",' writes @SheridanDani
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
'It is striking to hear Cummings describe himself as someone who is " not a smart person",' writes @SheridanDani
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Behavioural scientist 'charlatans' said public would not accept lockdown.
People were watching what was happening in Europe and were frightened, so the assumption that people wouldn't respond was "false"
People were watching what was happening in Europe and were frightened, so the assumption that people wouldn't respond was "false"
Cummings says March 12 was "a completely surreal day", in which he text the PM warning of "big problems".
The message - which he apologises for - describes the Cabinet Office as being "terrifyingly s***", urging him to announce people with symptoms stay home rather than delay
The message - which he apologises for - describes the Cabinet Office as being "terrifyingly s***", urging him to announce people with symptoms stay home rather than delay
The day was "completely derailed" by the National Security "people" saying Trump wanted the UK to join a bombing campaign in the Middle East.
That day the Times had run a huge story about Carrie Symonds' dog and she was going "completely crackers", he tells MPs
That day the Times had run a huge story about Carrie Symonds' dog and she was going "completely crackers", he tells MPs
"Part of the building was saying are going to bomb Iraq, part of the building arguing about whether or not are we going to do quarantine, the PM has his girlfriend going crackers about something completely trivial," Cummings said
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings tells MPs that he and the advisers decided to explain to the PM the official plan was wrong and were heading for "the biggest disaster this country has seen since 1945"
Helen McNamara, the then-Deputy Cabinet Secretary, walked in while they were looking at the plan B whiteboard and told them "there is no plan - we are in huge trouble... I think we are absolutely f-----."
He says he told her "I think you're right"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
He says he told her "I think you're right"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings 'too frightened' to question official pandemic plan
"On the one hand, it was clear that everything was wrong, bad, terrible. But I was incredibly frightened about the consequences of me pulling a massive emergency string and saying 'the official plan is wrong'"
"On the one hand, it was clear that everything was wrong, bad, terrible. But I was incredibly frightened about the consequences of me pulling a massive emergency string and saying 'the official plan is wrong'"
Cummings says he had spoken to a Cambridge professor and shared Sage documents with him and others.
They "gave me the confidence to the Prime Minister to say 'we should change'".
But in retrospect "I just left this far, far too late," Cummings admits
They "gave me the confidence to the Prime Minister to say 'we should change'".
But in retrospect "I just left this far, far too late," Cummings admits
The plan that was put before the PM could have been developed "six weeks earlier" if officials hadn't been derailed by thinking there were only two options on the table, Cummings told MPs
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings said the initial thinking - expressed by the PM - was that the real problem was not the pandemic but the "overreaction" to it.
"There was a fundamental misunderstanding about how far it had spread in this country," noting a lack of testing exacerbated that view
"There was a fundamental misunderstanding about how far it had spread in this country," noting a lack of testing exacerbated that view
❌Sketch: Cummings paints a vivid picture of No 10 chaos
'Dominic Cummings's testimony is, unsurprisingly, sticking to a repeated theme of his blogs – the dysfunctional way in which Government is run and decisions are made,' writes @Madz_Grant
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
'Dominic Cummings's testimony is, unsurprisingly, sticking to a repeated theme of his blogs – the dysfunctional way in which Government is run and decisions are made,' writes @Madz_Grant
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings claims Matt Hancock "should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody in multiple occasions.. including publicly".
Cummings is asked about the picture he has painted of chaos, "chicken pox parties, bodies piling up on the street" and so on
Cummings is asked about the picture he has painted of chaos, "chicken pox parties, bodies piling up on the street" and so on
Cabinet Secretary 'divvied up' Health Secretary's job because he was 'overwhelmed'.
There were "lots of great people" in the Department of Health but there were no systems to deal with "proper emergency procurement", Cumming told MPs
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
There were "lots of great people" in the Department of Health but there were no systems to deal with "proper emergency procurement", Cumming told MPs
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
The day Johnson tested positive, they were told officials had been "turning down ventilators because the price had been marked up".
He says he was told they were shipping PPE "because that is what we always do", despite planes being available
He says he was told they were shipping PPE "because that is what we always do", despite planes being available
"That is why I described it as smoking ruin"
"The whole system was like wading through treacle on these things," Cummings says.
He says that is why the Cabinet Secretary said the Secretary of State job had to be "divvied up" because the department was "overwhelmed"
"The whole system was like wading through treacle on these things," Cummings says.
He says that is why the Cabinet Secretary said the Secretary of State job had to be "divvied up" because the department was "overwhelmed"
Asked for examples of Matt Hancock lying, Dominic Cummings said there are "numerous" instances.
He cites one in which the Health Secretary said the summer everyone who needed treatment had received it
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
He cites one in which the Health Secretary said the summer everyone who needed treatment had received it
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
❌Analysis: Matt Hancock looks a dead cert to be moved at next reshuffle
'Hancock was also likely to be one of the biggest targets of the Cummings session, and he, more than anyone else, will be worried about his job right now,' writes @gordonrayner
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
'Hancock was also likely to be one of the biggest targets of the Cummings session, and he, more than anyone else, will be worried about his job right now,' writes @gordonrayner
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
❌Analysis: Cummings' day of chaos is wrong - what else is?
The most extraordinary part of Cummings' evidence so far has been his colourful description of Downing St disengaging from Covid on March 12'.
The only problem, Cummings has got his dates wrong,' writes @gordonrayner
The most extraordinary part of Cummings' evidence so far has been his colourful description of Downing St disengaging from Covid on March 12'.
The only problem, Cummings has got his dates wrong,' writes @gordonrayner
A political system that results in Corbyn and Johnson vying to be PM has "profound questions" to be asked of it, Dominic Cummings has said.
"Any system which ends up giving a choice of two people like that to lead is obviously a system that has gone extremely badly wrong"
"Any system which ends up giving a choice of two people like that to lead is obviously a system that has gone extremely badly wrong"
The system means that great people are "led by donkeys", Cummings says.
It is "completely crazy" that Cummings had the power he did, he adds.
"It is completely crackers that someone like me was in there, just as it crackers that Boris Johnson was in there"
It is "completely crazy" that Cummings had the power he did, he adds.
"It is completely crackers that someone like me was in there, just as it crackers that Boris Johnson was in there"
Cummings says after the election his dealings with the media declined, and he stopped talking to "almost all journalists almost all the time".
This "drove the media mad", he says, because no one in his position had done that for "decades"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
This "drove the media mad", he says, because no one in his position had done that for "decades"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings rejects calls to publish all media correspondence.
The former adviser says they are "official briefings - it is not in any sense normal for people to just publish conversations they have with the media. It is hard to see how that would work"
The former adviser says they are "official briefings - it is not in any sense normal for people to just publish conversations they have with the media. It is hard to see how that would work"
The best way to deal with the pandemic would have been to "have a kind of dictator in charge", Cummings told MPs.
If he had been PM, he says he would have put Cambridge physicist Mark Warner in charge, giving him as close to "kingly authority" as was possible
If he had been PM, he says he would have put Cambridge physicist Mark Warner in charge, giving him as close to "kingly authority" as was possible
"The Cabinet Secretary quite rightly was saying 'Hancock is responsible' but everyone else was saying 'Hancock is completely incapable of doing the job... so no one gets to grips with who is actually in charge"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings told MPs: "The shielding plan was literally hacked together in two all-nighters after the 19th, I think, Thursday the 19th"
❌Sketch: Cummings' testimony bubbles over into visceral loathing.
'Cummings has sought to portray himself as objective and self-effacing – "not smart" – in stark contrast with the unapologetic figure that greeted journalists in the Rose Garden a year ago', writes @Madz_Grant
'Cummings has sought to portray himself as objective and self-effacing – "not smart" – in stark contrast with the unapologetic figure that greeted journalists in the Rose Garden a year ago', writes @Madz_Grant
Cummings has defended his action after discovering there was no plan, saying he was having "meeting after meeting with people in Whitehall, on issue after issue to see 'who has a plan here'".
"There's not even a plan to bury all the bodies," he said
"There's not even a plan to bury all the bodies," he said
🔴Jeremy Hunt is now in the chair and he begins by asking why testing wasn't prioritised at the early stages of the pandemic.
Dominic Cummings has a straightforward response: it didn't fit with the herd immunity plan
Live updates: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings has a straightforward response: it didn't fit with the herd immunity plan
Live updates: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings says conversations about testing didn't take place "until I started talking to people about Plan B".
Jeremy Hunt says it wasn't modelled for two months afterwards, and wasn't set up until May
Jeremy Hunt says it wasn't modelled for two months afterwards, and wasn't set up until May
Cummings says "the whole core of Government fell apart" but he struggles with dates.
The "core of the Government collapsed when the Prime Minister got ill".
They thought he might die, he adds, noting he was off sick at the same time
The "core of the Government collapsed when the Prime Minister got ill".
They thought he might die, he adds, noting he was off sick at the same time
🔴Cummings has accused the Government of failing in the Covid crisis and falling "disastrously short" of the standards the public had a right to expect.
➡️The key points so far: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
➡️The key points so far: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings says the Health Secretary had "disastrously" promised to reach 100,000 daily tests by the end of April.
"This was an incredibly stupid thing to do,
"In my opinion he should have been fired for that,
"It was criminal, disgraceful behaviour that caused serious harm"
"This was an incredibly stupid thing to do,
"In my opinion he should have been fired for that,
"It was criminal, disgraceful behaviour that caused serious harm"
❌Analysis: One key player safe from Cummings' criticism so far
'There is one key player in Government whose name has remained conspicuously absent from Cummings' testimony so far: that of his old ally Michael Gove,' writes @LOS_Fisher
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
'There is one key player in Government whose name has remained conspicuously absent from Cummings' testimony so far: that of his old ally Michael Gove,' writes @LOS_Fisher
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
❌Opinion: Cummings's confession shows why we're lucky he's no longer calling the shots
"He is not smart, he told us, and it was crazy he was ever hired," writes @RossjournoClark
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…
"He is not smart, he told us, and it was crazy he was ever hired," writes @RossjournoClark
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…
Hunt asks if by the time test and trace launched in May, cases were just too high to work.
Mr Cummings says he is "98% correct", adding it is "a complicated question".
"It took too long to set up... fundamentally this should have been happening from January"
Mr Cummings says he is "98% correct", adding it is "a complicated question".
"It took too long to set up... fundamentally this should have been happening from January"
Cummings says there are "many, many, many things" in the crisis, but that he said "repeatedly from February/March" that Hancock should have been fired.
"I don't think I could have been more explicit... I actually went with the Cabinet Secretary to the Prime Minister"
"I don't think I could have been more explicit... I actually went with the Cabinet Secretary to the Prime Minister"
Cummings claims Lord Sedwill told Boris Johnson the system is not "set up to deal with a Secretary of State who repeatedly lies in meetings - we can't operate like that"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
The Government failed “terribly” to communicate that coronavirus was airborne and the extent of asymptomatic transmission, Cummings has said.
“Even now, the Government is over-stressing wash your hands and under-stressing airborne”
“Even now, the Government is over-stressing wash your hands and under-stressing airborne”
Test and Trace was created “partly as an attempt” to move from “Plan A and Plan B”, Dominic Cummings tells MPs.
But “everybody came to me” to say that Public Health England “could not be trusted” to do it
But “everybody came to me” to say that Public Health England “could not be trusted” to do it
Dominic Cummings is asked if he could not have changed the situation by threatening to resign.
“Yes, I could have done and I thought about it in March,”
He confirms that he said in July that he would leave "at the latest" by December 18
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
“Yes, I could have done and I thought about it in March,”
He confirms that he said in July that he would leave "at the latest" by December 18
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
❌Analysis: How will those caught up in the 'he said, she said' respond?
'How will the fallout from today’s appearance play out? One element is already clear - a huge debate of ‘he said, she said’ and questions of the truth,' writes @benrileysmith
'How will the fallout from today’s appearance play out? One element is already clear - a huge debate of ‘he said, she said’ and questions of the truth,' writes @benrileysmith
Johnson in PMQs denied that Lord Sedwill, then the Cabinet Secretary, said he had “lost faith” in Hancock’s honesty in early 2020.
Cummings has provided an explicit example of when Lord Sedwill questioned Hancock’s relationship with the truth to Johnson
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings has provided an explicit example of when Lord Sedwill questioned Hancock’s relationship with the truth to Johnson
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
The UK should have had tests “in order of a million or two million or five million a day” by the first week of September, Cummings claims.
“Absolutely zero doubt about it,”
Scientists said they had “basically been blocked by every part of the system on doing mass testing"
“Absolutely zero doubt about it,”
Scientists said they had “basically been blocked by every part of the system on doing mass testing"
❌Opinion: Cummings' testimony won't change many minds
"The problem for those praying that this could end Johnson’s career is that too many of his criticisms can be framed as one bitter and spurned man’s opinion," writes @MrTCHarris
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…
"The problem for those praying that this could end Johnson’s career is that too many of his criticisms can be framed as one bitter and spurned man’s opinion," writes @MrTCHarris
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…
⚖️Cummings has plenty of people in his crosshairs as he discusses the Government's pandemic response.
Who are the winners and losers from Cummings evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care and Science and Technology Committee?
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Who are the winners and losers from Cummings evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care and Science and Technology Committee?
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Johnson fought advisers who wanted a tougher border policy last summer, saying the first lockdown was “wrong”, Cummings says.
“We are imposing all these restrictions domestically but people can see people are coming in from affected areas, it is madness, it undermines messages"
“We are imposing all these restrictions domestically but people can see people are coming in from affected areas, it is madness, it undermines messages"
Johnson was justifiably “confused” at the start of the outbreak but there is “no excuse” for his continued mistakes, Cummings says.
Asked how he would rate the Government response: “some individual brilliant responses” but that it suffered from an “overall system failure”
Asked how he would rate the Government response: “some individual brilliant responses” but that it suffered from an “overall system failure”
🗯️Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock and Carrie Symonds all get a mention.
Here are the key quotes from Dominic Cummings's evidence.
🔓This article is currently free to read
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Here are the key quotes from Dominic Cummings's evidence.
🔓This article is currently free to read
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings rejects reports he was 'willing for pensioners to die'
He says this article, from The Times, had “invented meetings” and an “inventory story” with “fake quoting”.
The article “created this terrible impression that we didn’t care about people - but it was not true”
He says this article, from The Times, had “invented meetings” and an “inventory story” with “fake quoting”.
The article “created this terrible impression that we didn’t care about people - but it was not true”
Cummings might be gunning for Hancock - but that doesn’t mean he is at risk of a demotion.
One senior Tory tells me: “Hancock has now got the safest role in govt - Boris won’t sack him now.”
Hhe is safe because the PM “won’t admit Cummings is right… it would show weakness”
One senior Tory tells me: “Hancock has now got the safest role in govt - Boris won’t sack him now.”
Hhe is safe because the PM “won’t admit Cummings is right… it would show weakness”
Cummings selected the BBC’s Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg as his sole point of contact with the UK media.
He said he only spoke to Kuenssberg around every three or four weeks to brief her on the key details of major news events
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
He said he only spoke to Kuenssberg around every three or four weeks to brief her on the key details of major news events
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
🏦Whitehall officials considered overruling the Bank of England’s independence in March 2020 to force the institution to fund Government borrowing, according to Cummings
telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/…
❌Analysis: Dominic Cummings' straight answers are in stark contrast to ministerial rhetoric.
'Whatever you think of Cummings, it is striking just how comfortable he seems answering tough, detailed questions,' writes @gordonrayner
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
'Whatever you think of Cummings, it is striking just how comfortable he seems answering tough, detailed questions,' writes @gordonrayner
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
⌨️Cummings tweeted an intriguing picture of a whiteboard that depicted the Government's coronavirus 'Plan B' early today.
The internet quickly got to work turning the image into a series of memes
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
The internet quickly got to work turning the image into a series of memes
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings has said he “stonewalled” on the Barnard Castle story because of a series of security threats that his family had faced for months.
He says he had received threats in his London home.
“The PM and I agreed because of security we would just stonewall the story”
He says he had received threats in his London home.
“The PM and I agreed because of security we would just stonewall the story”
Dominic Cummings' wife returned to London because he went to work when still sick.
“The Prime Minister had nearly just died, I was getting all these messages from everybody saying the government is in freefall… she was worried about me"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
“The Prime Minister had nearly just died, I was getting all these messages from everybody saying the government is in freefall… she was worried about me"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings rejects suggestions that the pandemic response was hindered by the communications team.
“It doesn't matter if you have great people doing communications if you have the prime minister changing his mind 10 times a day... You are going to have a communications disaster”
“It doesn't matter if you have great people doing communications if you have the prime minister changing his mind 10 times a day... You are going to have a communications disaster”
Cummings is asked why he never apologised for his lockdown-breaking trip to Durham.
He says he thought it was reasonable and “the truth at the time was, no I wasn’t sorry about moving them out of London - I thought it was completely the right thing to do”
He says he thought it was reasonable and “the truth at the time was, no I wasn’t sorry about moving them out of London - I thought it was completely the right thing to do”
Cummings notes that reporters recognised the “huge tension” between him and the PM who is “diametrically opposed” to his thinking.
“He just gets up, reads the papers, says ‘what are they doing today’ and then cannons around”
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
“He just gets up, reads the papers, says ‘what are they doing today’ and then cannons around”
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Watch again: Dominic Cummings apologises to families as he appears before MPs
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cabinet Secretary Lord Sedwill and other senior people told Cummings not to resign last summer, Cummings has told MPs.
“I thought very, very seriously about resigning in the summer,” he says.
But he was told “please stay - don't do it”
“I thought very, very seriously about resigning in the summer,” he says.
But he was told “please stay - don't do it”
Johnson was “like a shopping trolley” that could not be guided, Cummings says.
Asked why he felt that despite his seniority he was not listened to, Cummings said there was “a centre of gravity in No. 10 for the same view around me but the Prime Minister just wouldn’t do it”
Asked why he felt that despite his seniority he was not listened to, Cummings said there was “a centre of gravity in No. 10 for the same view around me but the Prime Minister just wouldn’t do it”
🔴Boris Johnson has dismissed claims by his former chief aide that he was complacent about the threat of coronavirus as the first wave approached
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Carrie Symonds' anger over a "completely trivial" story about their dog derailed focus early in pandemic, Dominic Cummings has claimed
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
💉Cummings has praised Bingham for building the vaccine taskforce, saying she had the “strength of character not to be pushed around”.
But this “should not blind us to the fact that we… could have got that going a lot faster than we did”
But this “should not blind us to the fact that we… could have got that going a lot faster than we did”
Cummings has told MPs it is “completely bizarre” and he is “completely baffled” by Number 10’s denial that it ever pursued a herd immunity strategy.
“It is totally incomprehensible to me that Number 10 would now be trying to deny that”
“It is totally incomprehensible to me that Number 10 would now be trying to deny that”
Cummings said there was “no excuse” for delaying the public inquiry until next year, saying it had to be “honestly explained”.
“If No 10 today won’t tell the truth about the official plan... what on earth else is going on in there now?”
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
“If No 10 today won’t tell the truth about the official plan... what on earth else is going on in there now?”
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
➡️Watch again: Matt Hancock should have been fired for 'constant, repeated lying', says Cummings
💉 Cummings says human trials which would have included thousands of people being injected with Covid were considered.
For future pandemics "we need a system that doesn’t result in leaders going ‘oh well, tens of millions of people are going to die, nothing we can do’,” he adds
For future pandemics "we need a system that doesn’t result in leaders going ‘oh well, tens of millions of people are going to die, nothing we can do’,” he adds
❌ Analysis: "How much damage is done depends on whether people across Britain think Mr Cummings’s critiques are factually correct. Do voters see Mr Cummings as an honest actor, or do they see today’s hearing as an hours’ long score-settling exercise?" | Writes @benrileysmith
The director of UCL Centre for Behaviour Change says Cummings "does not appear to understand the role of the Sage sub-group.
Professor Susan Michie says it was "not asked to comment, and has not commented, on what interventions are effective or when they should be triggered"
Professor Susan Michie says it was "not asked to comment, and has not commented, on what interventions are effective or when they should be triggered"
A spokesman says the PM has full confidence in Matt Hancock and believes he has told the truth.
“The Health Secretary has been working closely with the Prime Minister throughout [the pandemic] and has been fully focused on protecting the health and care system, and saving lives"
“The Health Secretary has been working closely with the Prime Minister throughout [the pandemic] and has been fully focused on protecting the health and care system, and saving lives"
Cummings has been asked for a “brief summary” of the decisions taken in the run-up to the second lockdown.
He says Sage and Sir Patrick Vallance advised “rapid action” in the form of a “short, sharp burst” to keep numbers down.
The Prime Minister “decided not to do that”
He says Sage and Sir Patrick Vallance advised “rapid action” in the form of a “short, sharp burst” to keep numbers down.
The Prime Minister “decided not to do that”
Cummings says he told Johnson “I’ve got a dreadful feeling about this, I think we are making a mistake.”
"By this point, unfortunately, the PM was listening to various people who were saying things like 'there is already herd immunity' and 'there won't be any second wave'"
"By this point, unfortunately, the PM was listening to various people who were saying things like 'there is already herd immunity' and 'there won't be any second wave'"
Dominic Cummings says despite what had gone before, the modelling suggested they would have been “just days away” from the NHS being “swamped again.”
He adds that he told the Prime Minister to learn lessons from the past but he said “no - just going to hit and hope”
He adds that he told the Prime Minister to learn lessons from the past but he said “no - just going to hit and hope”
Cummings says, in the lead-up to the Durham trip, his wife had called him to say there was a gang of people outside, threatening to break in and "kill everybody"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Matt Hancock agreed there should be a circuit breaker, but Rishi Sunak was concerned about the lack of planning, Dominic Cummings says.
“There was no plan.”
But the Chancellor always "extremely effectively rode in" with support like furlough when needed
“There was no plan.”
But the Chancellor always "extremely effectively rode in" with support like furlough when needed
On the PM, Cummings says, “After the first lockdown, his view was he was cross with me and others for pushing him into the first lockdown, His argument was literally quote ‘I should have been the Mayor of Jaws and kept the town open’. He said that many, many times”
Dominic Cummings says he is speaking publicly now because it is clear Boris Johnson does not “want to learn the lessons.”
He adds he is not surprised by the delay in India being added to the red list because it is "completely in keeping" with the Government's actions so far
He adds he is not surprised by the delay in India being added to the red list because it is "completely in keeping" with the Government's actions so far
Dominic Cummings says he “can’t remember” what he thought about the Eat Out to Help Out policy, which has been linked with the rise in cases in September
Cummings claims the Cabinet Secretary had to “threaten people with getting fired” to adapt mass testing because “they couldn’t get their head around” the role that the two different types of test had
“The Prime Minister knew that I blamed him for the whole situation, and I did. By October 31 our relations were essentially already finished."
But Carrie Symonds “wanted to get rid of me" and was hoping to "appoint her friends to particular jobs” in No.10
But Carrie Symonds “wanted to get rid of me" and was hoping to "appoint her friends to particular jobs” in No.10
Winners
✅ Rishi Sunak
✅ Sir Patrick Vallance
✅ Professor Chris Whitty
✅ Ben Warner
✅ Demis Hassabis
Losers
❌ Boris Johnson
❌ Matt Hancock
❌ Mark Sedwill
❌ Carrie Symonds
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
✅ Rishi Sunak
✅ Sir Patrick Vallance
✅ Professor Chris Whitty
✅ Ben Warner
✅ Demis Hassabis
Losers
❌ Boris Johnson
❌ Matt Hancock
❌ Mark Sedwill
❌ Carrie Symonds
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings says Johnson was “distracted” by:
📌 His divorce
📌 Carrie Symonds’ pregnancy
📌 His engagement
📌 His finances
“Obviously I think the Prime Minister’s focus should be on the Prime Minister’s job"
📌 His divorce
📌 Carrie Symonds’ pregnancy
📌 His engagement
📌 His finances
“Obviously I think the Prime Minister’s focus should be on the Prime Minister’s job"
🔴 Cummings says “emergency powers” were discussed to get funds from the Bank, amid fears that bond markets could collapse just as the Treasury needed access to record amounts of money
telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/…
Matt Hancock used Sir Patrick Vallance and Prof Chris Whitty as “shields for himself,” Dominic Cummings says.
The Health Secretary planned to use the ‘following the science’ mantra as “a way to always say if things go wrong we will blame the scientists,” he adds
The Health Secretary planned to use the ‘following the science’ mantra as “a way to always say if things go wrong we will blame the scientists,” he adds
🔴 Boris Johnson's former chief adviser dissects the key dates of No 10's early response to the coronavirus pandemic
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings says “holes” in the tiering system were created because it was “put together chaotically.”
“It was the victim of having to be cobbled together under time pressure...We basically created it ad hoc because the Prime Minister wouldn't do the ‘let’s smash it now’"
“It was the victim of having to be cobbled together under time pressure...We basically created it ad hoc because the Prime Minister wouldn't do the ‘let’s smash it now’"
🔴 The former adviser says Matt Hancock should have been fired for “15 to 20” different failures during the early days of the coronavirus crisis
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings says "there were powerful voices within the Treasury" that voiced concerns over the economic repercussions of lockdown.
He adds that Sunak "never threatened to quit" but that he was "just desperate for a plan that was coherent and that the Government would stick to"
He adds that Sunak "never threatened to quit" but that he was "just desperate for a plan that was coherent and that the Government would stick to"
🔴 Only 16% of respondents said they would trust allegations made by Mr Cummings
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Cummings says of lockdowns: "The faster you act, the faster you get on top of it."
He says his advice would have been to "whack (the virus) hard" in September to have "a chance to come out (of lockdown) in a month's time" with thousands of tests available
He says his advice would have been to "whack (the virus) hard" in September to have "a chance to come out (of lockdown) in a month's time" with thousands of tests available
"Each flamboyant nugget of insight into the hot mess that was the government at a time of the worst crisis facing this country since the War further trashes Boris Johnson’s reputation and legacy" | Writes @RosaFPrince
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…
Asked what could have been structurally different in Government in response to the pandemic, Cummings says: "People are incentivised to keep their heads down and back up the system when it fails"
"The people who actually get things done are not respected, often, in the system"
"The people who actually get things done are not respected, often, in the system"
🔴 "This was not an inquiry, but the rantings of an offended man who ultimately wasn't the person in charge, but thinks he should have been"
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Dominic Cummings says he should have resigned in September, but that he stayed on as the Prime Minister's chief adviser "because it was clear that we were heading for another disaster."
"I think I made the wrong decision and I apologise for that," he says
"I think I made the wrong decision and I apologise for that," he says
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