Johnson takes control in shake-up at No 10

BORIS JOHNSON is to take direct control of the Government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis after a chaotic fortnight in which his chief aide was accused of breaking lockdown rules and the Government’s test and trace plans were hit by setbacks.

A shake-up in Downing Street will see the Prime Minister spearhead two committees, covering strategy and operational delivery. Tory MPS said it would allow him to tighten his grip on the fight against the pandemic and could weaken the influence of Dominic Cummings. The Government has been criticised over plans to quarantine arrivals into the UK, while a test and trace app to track people infected with the virus has failed to materialise. The reforms will free some of the PM’S top team to focus on Brexit ahead of a crucial deadline next month when the UK must decide if it will extend the transition period beyond Dec 31.

It came as Mr Johnson appointed Simon Case, a key aide to the Duke of Cambridge, to the role of permanent secretary, running 10 Downing Street.

Mr Johnson will chair a new strategy committee dubbed “CS” while Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will head an operations committee, “CO” in an echo of the Government’s Brexit planning last year, led by “XS” strategic and “XO” operational committees.

They replace four ministerial groups set up at the start of the crisis, covering foreign affairs; health; economy and business; and public services, each chaired by a Cabinet minister.

The Covid-19 committee meeting, held every morning at No10, is being axed. No 10 is also ending weekend press conferences due to low audience figures, but will continue with weekday sessions, which have attracted audiences exceeding three million. One senior Tory MP said the shake-up was intended “to bring some order” to decision making.

The MP said: “Boris has decided that Cummings is there, but he is going to take more direct control. It is coming out of frustration – you are seeing his reawakening after a tough old time.

“He showed he had backbone [in backing Mr Cummings]. Cummings is not in a brilliant place – and he must know it – and knowing that makes Boris more determined to do it himself.”

In a further change, lockdown measures are now to be reviewed every four weeks instead of every three.