Ministerial adviser who confronted No10 chief Dominic Cummings over ‘unkind’ jibes during reshuffle leaves her government post
- Lynn Davidson has left her post as adviser to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace
- The ‘Spad’ had rebuked Dominic Cummings over lack of ‘kindness’ to staff
- Sajid Javid quit last month after ultimatum that he must get rid of advisers
A political aide who confronted Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings over his lack of ‘kindness’ has has left the Government.
Lynn Davidson has left her post as special adviser – or ‘Spad’ – to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace after refusing to be shifted to another department.
The departure emerged weeks after Ms Davidson clashed with Mr Cummings over his behaviour.
The maverick aide had swiped at the end of a meeting of Spads on February 14 that he would ‘see some of you next week’ – a reference to the impending reshuffle in which many of them lost their jobs.
Ms Davidson, a former reporter at The Sun, later challenged Mr Cummings over the jibe, saying it had been out of order.
Lynn Davidson (left) has left her post as special adviser – or ‘Spad’ – to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace after rebuking Dominic Cummings (right) over his behaviour last month. Tory sources insisted the departure was not linked to the clash
Senior Tory sources stressed her departure – first revealed by Buzzfeed – was not in response to the spat.
She is believed to have been offered a move to the health or education departments before her clash with Mr Cummings, but refused to go.
The exit is the latest chapter in a brutal cull of Spads as Mr Cummings tries to rein in their activities.
Sajid Javid quit as Chancellor during the reshuffle last month when the PM told him he had to accept having his team of advisers axed and sharing a team with No10.
Mr Javid used a resignation statement in the Commons last week – watched by Mr Johnson – to say that agreeing would have damaged his ability to ‘speak truth to power’.
He declined to name Mr Cummings directly, but joked that there had been a lot of gossip already about ‘comings and goings’, to laughter from MPs.
The Bromsgrove MP took to his feet immediately after Boris Johnson’s PMQs session this afternoon.
He told the Commons: ‘A Chancellor, like all cabinet ministers, has to be able to give candid advice so he is speaking truth to power.
‘I believe that the arrangement proposed would significantly inhibit that and it would not have been in the national interest.
‘So while I was grateful for the continued trust of the Prime Minister in wanting to reappoint me, I am afraid that these were conditions that I could not accept in good conscience.’
Another aide to Mr Javid, Sonia Khan, was frogmarched out of Downing Street by police officers after being sacked by Mr Cummings last year.
It is understood an overhaul to the arrangements for political advisers has been going on for some time.
The maverick No10 strategist has tried to implement a ban on Spads accepting drinks or meals from reporters.
Sajid Javid (pictured in the Commons last week) quit as Chancellor during the reshuffle last month when the PM told him he had to accept having his team of advisers axed and sharing a team with No10
Mr Cummings has launched a drive to recruit ‘misfits and weirdos’ to government, saying he wants people with off-the-wall talents to work alongside conventional officials.
There have been signs of disquiet among senior Tories over Mr Cummings’ influence over government, and his insistence on provoking conflict.
One told MailOnline last week: ‘There is going to come a point when the PM is going to have to say to him: ”You’ve gone too far”.’
It emerged this week that the civil service is drawing up new HR rules for ministerial advisers.
The Cabinet Office is recruiting an official to help ‘establish the cross-government special adviser HR function’.
The ‘high-profile and stretching role’ – with a salary of up to £60,635 – would see the successful candidate being asked to ‘revise and embed a full suite of HR policies, processes and principles ensuring they are fit for purpose’.