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Why is the Cain resignation so fascinating? Because it speaks to wider question of the changing of guard within No 10. Has PM now come to end of road with his Vote Leave team? 1/
A senior govt figure told me tonight on the Q of whether Cummings might decide too to go with his close ally Cain: “We can live without Dom” > this is the view of course of many many of Johnson’s MPs and senior ministers 2/
I’m also told by a senior govt figure that the PM wanted to change the mood within a No 10 and govt growing evermore in opposition to his party. Allegra Stratton appointment as press secretary (made by PM directly) spoke to that - and was not welcomed by Cain 3/
And Cain has allies beyond DC. Vote Leave team in No10/Whitehall tight. As one said to me today on reported opposition to Cain as CoS, “He’s already doing job anyway & there’s a lot of support for him with spads. People should stop briefing against him & crack on with their job”
And another advisor in govt texts tonight: “Just want to make it very clear a majority of people in Downing Street did not want to see Lee leave”
Advisor loyal to Cain thinks PM made “huge mistake”. Cain apparently made clear terms on which he’d do CoS but PM ‘didn’t meet those terms’. Cain been with PM since 2016. Right hand man at FCO, the backbench stint, leadership race, election & in No 10, so this really is big break
