Ex-Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith takes a swipe at Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings


Boris Johnson DID know what had been agreed in deal to restore powersharing at Stormont, says sacked Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith as he takes swipe at PM and Dominic Cummings

  • Julian Smith was sacked as Northern Ireland secretary at the Cabinet reshuffle
  • It was suggested he was sacked because of the powersharing deal he brokered
  • It was alleged that Boris Johnson had not cleared all of the contents of the deal
  • But Mr Smith has hit back and insisted the Prime Minister did agree to the deal
  • He also took aim at Dominic Cummings who mocked performance of Cabinet 

Julian Smith has taken a swipe at Boris Johnson and mocked Dominic Cummings after he was sacked as Northern Ireland secretary at last week’s Cabinet reshuffle. 

It was claimed at the time that Mr Smith had lost his job at the top table because of the terms he had agreed to in a deal which restored powersharing at Stormont. 

The terms of the agreement sparked Tory concerns that it could pave the way for prosecutions of British soldiers and it was suggested that Mr Johnson had not seen all of the deal before it was announced. 

But Mr Smith has rubbished the suggestion, insisting that the PM ‘does not sign off a key government deal without reading it first’. 

His allies went even further and said the claim that the PM was not kept fully informed was ‘absolute c**p’.

Meanwhile, Mr Smith could not resist a jab at Mr Cummings who suggested before the reshuffle that the characters from children’s television show PJ Masks could do a better job than the current Cabinet. 

Julian Smith, pictured leaving Number 10 in October 2019, was sacked as Northern Ireland secretary at the Cabinet reshuffle last week

Julian Smith, pictured leaving Number 10 in October 2019, was sacked as Northern Ireland secretary at the Cabinet reshuffle last week

It was suggested Boris Johnson, pictured with his new look Cabinet last Friday, had got rid of Mr Smith due to concerns about the Northern Ireland powersharing deal he brokered

It was suggested Boris Johnson, pictured with his new look Cabinet last Friday, had got rid of Mr Smith due to concerns about the Northern Ireland powersharing deal he brokered

It was suggested Boris Johnson, pictured with his new look Cabinet last Friday, had got rid of Mr Smith due to concerns about the Northern Ireland powersharing deal he brokered

Mr Smith told the Spectator: ‘On Wednesday night the Times reported my expected fate, suggesting the reason for the chop was that Downing Street had been unaware of key details of the deal to restore Stormont.

‘I was grateful for the opportunity to confirm to the journalist that a PM does not sign off a key government deal without reading it first, alongside a phalanx of talented PJ Masks aides.’

Mr Cummings, Mr Johnson’s top adviser, had memorably told reporters that the animated trio in PJ Masks would ‘do a greater job than all of them (Cabinet ministers) put together’.

Mr Smith also revealed there were signs leading up to the reshuffle that he would not retain the job which he was appointed to in July last year when Mr Johnson first became PM.  

He said he started to have trouble contacting staff members in the hours leading up to the shake-up. 

‘My suspicions were raised by Tuesday,’ the ex-minister said.

‘My close protection apologised about the swap to a Skoda because the main car was in the garage; I received a fumbled brief about what would happen “should things go badly” for me in the reshuffle; and finally, I could no longer reach the team on the normal phone due to “battery problems”.’

Mr Smith also took aim Dominic Cummings who suggested before the reshuffle that children's TV heroes PJ Masks would do a better job than the current Cabinet

Mr Smith also took aim Dominic Cummings who suggested before the reshuffle that children's TV heroes PJ Masks would do a better job than the current Cabinet

Mr Smith also took aim Dominic Cummings who suggested before the reshuffle that children’s TV heroes PJ Masks would do a better job than the current Cabinet

‘News from my private office confirmed that indeed miracles would be required to turn this patient’s prospects around. 

‘After a few side glances one private secretary told me that he had got wind via the civil service “net” that I should be in for 8am on Thursday.’

Mr Smith was replaced as Northern Ireland secretary by former Tory Party chairman Brandon Lewis.

Mr Smith initially responded to being removed from the Cabinet by proclaiming that his ‘future plans are things like going to the pub’.