Boris Johnson’s top media aide Lee Cain resigns amid reports of power struggle at 10 Downing Street

Lee Cain, director of communication on the Prime Minister’s Workplace, arrives at 10, Downing Road on Thursday. AP

London:  There are widespread stories of an influence battle on the coronary heart of the UK authorities as one among Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s closest aides has introduced his resignation because the Director of Communications.

Lee Cain, 39, introduced he would step down as Johnson’s high media aide on Wednesday evening after ministers and advisers, together with Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds, are stated to have protested over his deliberate promotion to Chief of Workers.

Cain can be an in depth aide of fellow Brexiteer and Downing Road Chief Technique Adviser Dominic Cummings, one other one among Johnson’s most influential and high-profile high group members.

“After cautious consideration I’ve this night resigned as No. 10 Director of Communications and can depart the publish on the finish of the yr,” reads Cain’s resignation letter.

“I wish to thank the prime minister for his loyalty and management. I’ve little doubt that below his premiership the nation will ship on the guarantees made within the 2019 election marketing campaign and construct again higher from the coronavirus pandemic,” he stated.

In response, the UK prime minister thanked Cain for his “extraordinary service” to him, each in No. 10 and beforehand when he was International Secretary.

“He has been a real ally and good friend and I’m very glad that he’ll stay Director of Communications till the New 12 months and to assist restructure the operation. He will likely be a lot missed,” Johnson stated.

The letter got here amid a brewing storm inside 10 Downing Road after media stories advised the elevation of former BBC journalist Allegra Stratton because the face of recent every day televised press briefings deliberate from the New 12 months brought about a substantial shake-up.

It was reported that Cain was to be provided a promotion to rebalance the ability shift, however that appointment got here below hearth from throughout the Conservative Social gathering ranks in addition to Symonds, the mom of Johnson’s child Wilfred, born in April.

Dominic Cummings, then again, was stated to be livid over his shut aide Cain shedding out on the promotion and there was some hypothesis that he might also comply with him out of Downing Road.

Nonetheless, up to now it could appear the battle inside the corridors of energy has been considerably curtailed, with the UK Prime Minister’s chief spokesperson, James Slack, prone to step into Cain’s position.

Cain went to Ormskirk Grammar Faculty in Lancashire and Staffordshire College, earlier than beginning a profession in journalism in 2006. Later, he turned a member of the communications group for the Vote Go away marketing campaign, and labored as a particular adviser for Johnson on the International Workplace.

Johnson is seeking to fill the publish of Chief of Workers as a part of a wider reorganisation on the very high of his authorities construction.

Nonetheless, a number of members of Parliament from inside his ruling Conservative Social gathering have expressed dismay on the wrangling in No. 10, which comes at a time of rising unease on the Tory benches on the authorities’s dealing with of the pandemic and the financial injury being attributable to the present lockdown in England.

Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, instructed the BBC there was “unhappiness concerning the Quantity 10 operation for a while.

“Members of Parliament have felt excluded from the decision-making course of, and that is no secret. The true alternative right here is for the Chief of Workers place to be stuffed by somebody who has good hyperlinks with the Conservative Social gathering and its illustration within the Home of Commons,” he stated.

The Opposition Labour Social gathering stated the developments had been an indication of an “incompetent and divided” authorities.

“On the day the UK turned the primary nation in Europe to report 50,000 coronavirus deaths and the general public endure one other lockdown, Boris Johnson’s authorities is preventing like rats in a sack over who will get what job,” a celebration spokesperson stated.