Government aide who spoke out against Dominic Cummings is fired from her job – inews

NewsLynn Davidson confronted Boris Johnson's right-hand man at a meeting of special advisers

Tuesday, 3rd March 2020, 6:46 pm

Lynn Davidson was sacked as a special adviser to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in the latest sign No 10 is exerting more control over the machinery of Government. But senior Conservative sources claimed her departure was unconnected to the argument she had with Mr Cummings, Boris Johnson's most powerful aide.

At a meeting of all special advisers on 14 February, Ms Davidson accused Mr Cummings of being "out of order" for telling aides they were at risk of losing their jobs in the Cabinet reshuffle.

No 10 subsequently tried to move her from the Ministry of Defence to the health or education department, but after Mr Wallace blocked the move she was unexpectedly fired this week.

Spad shake-up

Ms Davidson previously worked as a journalist for The Sun, before moving into the Government to work for then-Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt. She is one of a number of special advisers to be sacked or moved in the wake of last month's reshuffle.

A Tory source said the move was planned before she confronted Mr Cummings and insisted there was no link between the two events.

In the Home Office, Priti Patel remains embroiled in a row over claims she bullied Sir Philip Rutnam out of his job as permanent secretary. On Tuesday the Home Secretary sent a memo to all staff co-written with Shona Dunn, who is Sir Philip's temporary replacement.

The pair said they "both regret Sir Philip's decision to resign", adding: "We both deeply value the work that every person in this department does and care about the wellbeing of all our staff. It is therefore a time for us all to come together as one team."

Court fight

The Government is currently being sued by Sonia Khan, a former aide to Sajid Javid, after she was frogmarched out of the building and accused of leaking information.

See original here:
Government aide who spoke out against Dominic Cummings is fired from her job - inews