A senior Treasury aide was “frogmarched out of Downing Street” after allegedly leaking Brexit secrets to allies of Philip Hammond.
The Daily Mail reports that Sonia Khan, the former chancellor's special adviser, was shown the door after a furious confrontation with the prime minister’s chief aide, Dominic Cummings.
When the controversial Cummings accused her of helping Hammond and other Conservative MPs attempting to block a no-deal Brexit, Khan denied the allegations. Cummings demanded that she show him her phone and, according to government sources, an angry exchange ensued.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
An official says Cummings told Khan that she was dismissed and said that her Whitehall security pass was cancelled with immediate effect. “The cops marched her out of No. 10 while she protested her innocence. It was incredible,” the official said.
There is no love lost between Cummings and Hammond. Earlier this month, Hammond complained that Boris Johnson is allowing “unelected people” to “pull the strings” in Downing Street. The Independent said his remarks were “seen as an attack on Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson's top policy adviser”.
Just days ago, Hammond said a no-deal Brexit would be just as much of a “betrayal” as not leaving the European Union. He also accused Downing Street aides of smearing former ministers by suggesting they had released details of Operation Yellowhammer.
Last night’s angry showdown, which The Guardian says underlines “Johnson’s ruthless approach,” comes weeks after the leaking of no-deal preparations. A dossier, which predicted food, fuel and medicine shortages if Britain left without a deal, appeared in the Sunday Times on 18 August.
-
Political cartoons for January 18Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include cost of living, endless supply of greed, and more
-
Exploring ancient forests on three continentsThe Week Recommends Reconnecting with historic nature across the world
-
How oil tankers have been weaponisedThe Explainer The seizure of a Russian tanker in the Atlantic last week has drawn attention to the country’s clandestine shipping network
-
The high street: Britain’s next political battleground?In the Spotlight Mass closure of shops and influx of organised crime are fuelling voter anger, and offer an opening for Reform UK
-
Biggest political break-ups and make-ups of 2025The Explainer From Trump and Musk to the UK and the EU, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a round-up of the year’s relationship drama
-
‘The menu’s other highlights smack of the surreal’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Is a Reform-Tory pact becoming more likely?Today’s Big Question Nigel Farage’s party is ahead in the polls but still falls well short of a Commons majority, while Conservatives are still losing MPs to Reform
-
Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support
-
Is Britain turning into ‘Trump’s America’?Today’s Big Question Direction of UK politics reflects influence and funding from across the pond
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
-
Entente cordiale: will state visit help UK-French relations get over Brexit?Today's Big Question The King, a keen Francophile who has a warm relationship with Emmanuel Macron, will play a key role in state visit
