Forum Topic

Cummings and goings

Hey everyone, we can relax now. Eddie Lister has been appointed “temporary Chief of Staff” in the serially incompetent Johnson White Downing Street.Or can we?Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 1992d8 Comments

"Only that he will leave by the end of the year..."Thanks Jonathan - from Sky news:A Downing Street statement later said the pair will be employed until mid-December, but Sky News' Beth Rigby said a source told her they are not expected to return to the office again because Mr Johnson wants to "clear the air and move things forward".I would have to see the wording of the statement - doesn't actually say they will cease to be employed - devil is always in the detail.Sounds like a lot of UK journalists are still addicted to the old source after all :)

Ed Robinson ● 1991d

I'm no fan of Lister but if he can get away with holding those two positions he should have the experience to stabilise Johnson's government before it falls apart. I suppose as its a temporary position it's more of a sticking plaster exercise? Perhaps it implies Johnson's positions might be temporary as well? Still its good to know Cummings is going - still if he's set up the downfall of Johnson he's do one thing for us all! Trouble is will Gove initiate another back stabbing exercise now, possibly successful this time, or will it be Sunak's opportunity?

Michael Ixer ● 1991d

Don’t forget https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/developer-paid-boris-johnsons-aide-sir-edward-lister-480-000-9sp3prv3q and also here: https://eastdevonwatch.org/2020/02/29/developer-paid-boris-johnsons-aide-sir-edward-lister-480000/Dubious to say the least.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1991d

No, it is not Cummings' post of adviser, but the post that Cummings had earmarked for Lee Cain.  This appears to have been the catalyst for the extraordinary fall out in Downing Street.Cummings I think will be working from home till mid-December I think.Edward Lister, Baron Udny-Lister, will be taking up the post that Lee Cain was to have filled. Whether Lister's appointment is a wise choice, it remains to be seen.  A Brexiteer with a track record as:- Leader of Wandsworth Council;- Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning at the Greater London Authority while Johnson was Mayor;- non-executive director at FCO, including the time when Johnson was Foreign Secretary;- Chief Strategy Advisor to Johnson since 2019 dealing with operational management as well as certain aspects of Brexit diplomacy.....Quite a record!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1991d

Only that he will leave by the end of the year.  He is still being paid and he still has his Downing Street pass (though they may have deactivated it!).  It's all horribly messy and reflects very badly on the man at the top, needless to say.None of this gives me any comfort that there will be an increased grip on the two disasters of the day - Covid-19 and Brexit.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1991d

But that was not Cummings job. The candidate for that post was Lee Cain I believe. I do not tend to follow these things too closely but I do not recall it being mentioned that Cain would replace Cummings.So has there been an official announcement of the employment status of Cummings?

Ed Robinson ● 1991d

Sir Edward Lister was announced as the interim chief of staff, pending a permanent appointment, on Friday evening.Cheers,Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 1991d

Is there an official statement or is the whole media now addicted to the old source?

Ed Robinson ● 1992d