The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Johnson under scrutiny
● Blackford calls for Cummings to be questioned by committee
SNP Westminster leader, Ian Blackford has called on the prime minister’s chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, to give evidence before a parliamentary committee.
Mr Blackford has expressed concerns over what he calls a “revolving door” of ministers in the UK Government following last week’s reshuffle, accusing Mr Johnson of acting in a presidential way.
He also described Mr Cummings as the “power behind the throne”, raising worries about the power of unelected advisers in No 10.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland yesterday, Mr Blackford said: “I’ve written to the clerk of the liaison committee to ask that he use his powers to make sure that Dominic
Cummings appears before that committee.”
Mr Blackford went on to raise questions about the replacement of former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith and the former attorney general Geoffrey Cox last week’s reshuffle, claiming the prime minister is surrounding himself with “yes men and women”.
When questioned about the right of the prime minister to determine ministers in his Cabinet, Mr Blackford likened the PM’s actions to those of US president Donald Trump.
He added: “That’s why it’s important that Parliament does its job and the liaison committee, which is the chair of all the select committees, doesn’t just call the prime minister but uses its power to call Dominic Cummings, who we know is having a significant impact on the way this prime minister is behaving.”
When asked for evidence Mr Johnson is running government in a presidential way, Mr Blackford said: “The charge which is made, and rightly so, is that the prime minister – supported by Dominic Cummings – is surrounding himself with yes men and women that will do his bidding. If you look at the history over the course of modern times you haven’t seen the reshuffle to the extent that’s taking place in the recent past, it’s a revolving door which is taking place.
“The key element of this is that if you don’t do the bidding of Boris Johnson, if you don’t accept everything that he wants to do, then you’re going to leave.”