Cummings faces curb from Whitehall ‘respect’ initiative

THE Civil Service has moved to rein in Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s chief aide, by rewriting human resources rules to ensure that the ministerial special advisers who he oversees are treated “with respect”.

Mr Cummings is known for his unconventional management style and only last Friday his warning to special advisers that anyone suffering from “personal crises” such as stress or a bereavement should leave their jobs.

Now the Cabinet Office is advertising for a senior policy leader to produce new HR policies for special advisers based on “treating everyone with respect” and “building trust”.

The advert for a “special advisers’ HR policy lead” says the successful candidate will be expected to “revise and embed a full suite of HR policies, processes and principles”, following a series of disputes between Mr Cummings and ministerial aides.

Special advisers are said to have contacted the First Division Association – which represents senior civil servants – to discuss their treatment.

The advert for the £60,000-a-year post – disclosed last night by Buzzfeed – describes it as a “high profile and stretching role” that involves working in “challenging circumstances” to produce HR policies for special advisers.

In what appears to be a rebuke to Mr Cummings’s management style, the advert says the official will need to “create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account”.