Some members of the Conservative Party are upset and concerned about the allegation that Rishi Sunak made a confidential agreement with Dominic Cummings in order to secure a victory in the election. One member even stated that Boris Johnson’s former top advisor should not be involved in politics anymore.
Several Conservative Members of Parliament have shared their thoughts in WhatsApp groups, expressing their disapproval of the concept, which was initially reported by the Sunday Times. Some have stated that it reflects poorly on Sunak’s decision-making abilities. One even compared it to allowing an arsonist into one’s own home.
Downing Street has not refuted the fact that Sunak and Cummings had two meetings for talks, but has dismissed Cummings’ claim of a job proposal, stating that the prime minister only had a general conversation with him.
Cummings, a key strategist of the victorious Vote Leave campaign, was fired by Johnson in less than a year. However, he continues to be a highly contentious figure in British politics.
Some of this stems from his alleged violation of lockdown regulations when he relocated his family from London to the north-east of England in the spring of 2020. He is also known for his confrontational demeanor and has been accused by others of being a key member of a destructive, sexist, and conceited group of advisors in Prime Minister Johnson’s No 10.
The Sunday Times reported that Cummings and Sunak met in North Yorkshire, where the prime minister’s constituency is located, in July. This meeting followed a previous one in London in December 2022 with Sunak and his chief of staff, Liam Booth-Smith.
According to the Sunday Times, Cummings stated that Sunak had proposed a personal position to help prepare for the upcoming election, but the Prime Minister did not accept his conditions.
According to Cummings, he was approached with a proposal for a clandestine agreement. The terms were that he would secure the election and in return, the other party would commit to governing responsibly. However, he was not willing to support the Conservatives if it meant neglecting the issues that truly matter to the voters.
“I stated that I was only willing to create a political system to defeat the Labour party and secure victory in the election if he would fully prioritize crucial matters, such as the issues with nuclear weapons infrastructure, natural and man-made pandemics, the problematic procurement of the Ministry of Defence, advancements in AI and other technologies, and the dysfunctional core institutions of the government which we began to address in 2020 but were neglected by Boris Johnson.”
A previous member of the cabinet expressed disbelief at the notion, stating, “I am surprised that this was even considered a viable option, particularly after Rishi had previously distanced himself from Dominic Cummings.”
“This is a man who is deeply toxic, whose approach to politics is sociopathic, and I’m being polite. Why on earth would you want to entertain someone like that back in the heart of politics, when they did so much harm?
“I do not believe Dominic Cummings should have a role in politics, and this sentiment is shared by the majority of individuals within the Conservative party, regardless of their political leanings.”
A member of Parliament with seniority stated that all Conservative MPs should keep in mind the numerous emails they received from upset constituents following Dominic Cummings’ visit to Bernard Castle. It is important to not invite an instigator into your home, especially in light of unfavorable poll numbers. It is believed that Dominic Cummings has no true allegiance to the Conservative party.
A typically supportive member of parliament stated: “It’s acceptable to seek advice from others, even if you don’t agree with them. However, hiring someone who is highly controversial and harmful to both our policies and the Conservative party is a step backwards. This will only bring up negative memories that we would rather leave behind.”
The Liberal Democrats requested an investigation into whether Sunak had violated the ministerial code by not reporting both meetings on the official register.
According to the government representative, discussions about political issues with private individuals do not need to be declared as long as they comply with the ministerial code.
Jonathan Ashworth, the opposition’s chief financial spokesperson, whose position is crucial in Labour’s planning for the upcoming election, stated: “Rishi Sunak, who is out of touch, is posing the incorrect inquiry by believing that the individual who disregarded lockdown rules and was a key figure in Boris Johnson’s unsuccessful leadership is the solution.”
During the pandemic, Cummings faced widespread criticism after stating that he had driven his family to Barnard Castle in County Durham to check his eyesight.
In the recent public inquiry regarding Covid, Cummings faced allegations of using aggressive, profane, and misogynistic language. This was revealed through messages where he attempted to dismiss senior civil servant Helen MacNamara, stating that No 10 was avoiding conflict with her.
Source: theguardian.com
