Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings contributed to a ‘toxic and sexist workplace culture’ in Downing Street (James Manning/PA)
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Cummings left his role as a Chief Advisor to Boris Johnson in November 2020 – but what is he doing now? What has he said about the Covid Inquiry? And what happened to his relationship with Johnson? Read on to find out.
What is Dominic Cummings doing now?
He has established a newsletter on the online platform Substack, where he shares insights into his time in government, the mechanics of Westminster, and his views on various topics, including the future of AI.
He offers free content on the platform, along with more pieces for paying subscribers.
Cummings also established a tech consultancy firm, Siwah Ltd, in 2021.
The name of the business alludes to an Egyptian desert oasis where Alexander III of Macedon led an army in the fourth century BC.
A follow-up to his former tech consultancy, Dynamic Maps, Cummings is the only director of the company listed with Companies House.
On top of this, Cummings also continues to work as a public speaker and consultant, offering advice on political communications, management solutions, and contemporary European history, including as an after-dinner speaker.
It had also been reported in 2024 that Cummings was preparing for a new political party that might replace the Conservative Party following the 2024 general election.
However, Cummings later praised Reform UK and abandoned calls for a new party, taking a step away from politics.
He told The Guardian: “I might spend more time on SW1, depending how things play out, but I do not want a job there.
“My efforts will only be helping people of any party pushing in what I consider a good direction, I’m happy living away from SW1 and SW1 for sure feels the same about me.”
What has he said about the Covid Inquiry?
When giving extensive evidence at the official inquiry, Cummings made strong accusations against former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock, claiming both were unfit for their roles and that tens of thousands of people died unnecessarily.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson pictured with his ex-chief adviser Dominic Cummings (Victoria Jones/PA)
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Cummings accused then Prime Minister Johnson of being like an out-of-control shopping trolley, and that he considered the former prime minister “unfit” for the position by October 2020.
He also said: “Senior ministers, senior officials, senior advisers like me, fell disastrously short”, and that “tens of thousands of people died, who didn’t need to die”.
The inquiry’s final report has now concluded that Cummings was a “destabilising influence” who contributed to a “toxic and sexist” workplace culture in Downing Street.
What happened in his relationship with Boris Johnson?
A hugely powerful figure in Downing Street, Cummings was known to be a major architect of a number of policies.
However, long before his relationship with Boris Johnson broke down, Cummings had been clashing with other personalities inside Number 10, particularly Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds.
Carrie Symonds
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During the Covid outbreak, Cummings was said to be frustrated with Mr Johnson’s delay in ordering a second lockdown in England.
Cummings’ abrasive style, aggressive language, and high risk-policy approach didn’t always fit with how Johnson wanted to run Downing Street.
Baroness Heather Hallett found Boris Johnson failed to exercise ‘proper leadership’ during the pandemic (Lucy North/PA)
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Tensions between the pair escalated when Johnson chose former ITV News home editor Allegra Stratton to take planned new televised daily press briefings over Cummings’ ally Lee Cain, leading to Cain’s resignation.
As their relationship deteriorated, Cummings was widely believed to be orchestrating a briefing campaign against Johnson, amid further claims that Cummings was manoeuvring to influence who would replace him as Prime Minister.
He expressed significant regret for not firing Cummings sooner, describing him as a “homicidal robot” and comparing him to the manipulative Shakespearean villain Iago.