Westminster under fire for wasting money on advisers amid No 10 row
The SNP has accused the UK Government of wasting taxp aye r s’ mo n e y o n a dv i s e r s fighting each other after the Lee Cain resignation.
B oris Johnson’s communications director dramatically resigned last night amid signs o f a b i t t e r D o w n i n g S t r e e t power struggle.
The shock move comes less than 24 hours after it emerged he was being considered for a promotion to b ecome the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.
A key ally of the PM’S chief adviser Dominic Cummings, the appointment was seen as the former Vote Leave team tightening their grip on Downing Street.
Howe ve r, whi s p e r s o f t h e move sparked a furious backlash from Tory MPS, staff and even Mr Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds.
Af te r a 2 4 h o u r s t h a t s aw Mr Cain heading for the top job only to be ousted by those he sought to control, the SNP have n ow criticised the UK G ove r n me n t f o r b e i n g d i s - tracted by infighting.
S N P We s t mi n s t e r d e p u t y l e a d e r K i r s t e n O s wa l d MP said: “The UK faces a growing Tory unemployment crisis, a devastating global pandemic, as well as the looming end of the Brexit transition period.
“It is a shameful distraction that senior members of the Tory government are wasting time fighting among themselves - when people’s lives and livelihoods are under threat.
“The fact that B oris Johns o n’s mo s t s e n i o r p o l i t i c a l advisers are busy waging a Tory civil war over their highly paid, taxpayer-funded posi
tions, while the UK is hit by the worst health and economic crisis in decades, tells you everything you need to know about this arrogant, incompetent and self-serving Tory government.
“It’s a total shambles. They would be ashamed if they had a shred of decency.”
Despite the ongoing Alex Salmond inquir y, the East Renfrewshire MP claimed there was no in-fighting problems in the SNP.
Ms Oswald ex plained: “In c o n t r a s t , Ni c o l a S t u rg e o n’s SNP S cottish Government is getting on with the job at hand, and tackling coronavirus with the seriousness it deserves.
“It’s no wonder that a growing majority of people in Scotland want nothing more to do with the broken Westminster system.”
In a statement announcing his resignation, Mr Cain last night insisted he was going despite having been offered
the chief of staff post.
He said: “After careful consideration I have t his evening resigned as No.10 director of communications and will leave the post at the end of the year.
“I t h a s b e e n a p r iv i l e g e t o wo r k a s a n a dv i s e r f o r M r Jo h n s o n f o r t h e l a s t t h r e e years – b eing par t of a team that helped him win the Tory leadership contest, secure the largest Conservative majority for three decades – and it was an honour to be asked to serve as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.
“I would like to thank all the team at No.10, including the ma ny u n s u n g a n d i n c r e d i - bly talented civil servants, for their hard work and support.”
The PM thanked him, sayi n g Mr C a i n wi l l b e “muc h missed”. He said: “I want to thank Lee for his extraordinary service.”