Boris Johnson 'confronted Dominic Cummings with unflattering texts briefing against fiancée Carrie Symonds'

BORIS Johnson confronted Dominic Cummings with unflattering texts briefing against his fiancée, it was reported today.

The Prime Minister is claimed to have ordered the senior adviser to leave after Carrie Symonds was forwarded messages that had been sent about her.

The Financial Times' claims, denied by No10, come as Mr Cummings was last night seen leaving Downing Street with a cardboard box of his belongings.

The PM finally lost his patience with the Vote Leave veteran amid lockdown rows, leaks and attacks on Ms Symonds, reportedly leading to a 45-minute showdown.

He sensationally banished the guru and his long time spin doctor Lee Cain – a move heralded by senior Tories last night as Boris “taking back control of his premiership”.  

The Sun has learnt a livid Prime Minister wanted him and ousted PR man Lee Cain out “sooner rather than later” and they will work out their notice away from Downing Street.

The Times reported it was feared the pair would "poison the well" if they were allowed to remain in their jobs until the end of the year as initially planned.

A No10 source said: “The atmosphere is one of reset and change and that can’t happen with those two still in the building.”

It comes after months of simmering Downing Street tensions and bitter backstabbing – with the PM's move shocking Westminster.

A source said: “Their behaviour in the last 72 hours was toxic and Boris said enough is enough.”

Insiders pointed to vicious negative briefings to the press about Ms Symonds and anonymous claims that chief Brexit negotiator David Frost could follow the pair out of the door as “crossing the line.”

It was claimed this week by the Telegraph that Cummings' crew of "Brexit Boys" had seen them refer to Ms Symonds as "Princess Nuts Nuts" behind her back.

Once all powerful, Mr Cummings threw in the towel on Thursday evening following “a shouty” confrontation with the PM over the ousting of his close ally Mr Cain.

Last July, Mr Cummings, the mastermind of the historic Brexit referendum victory in 2016, was given full control of Mr Johnson’s administration when he got the keys to No10.

He was known to boast that the “Vote Leave” gang were running the country now, and he did so with a heavy hand.

Mr Cummings was regarded as being more powerful than most ministers, exerting control over the Government's agenda and demanding iron discipline from the army of Whitehall special advisers.

Alongside his close ally Mr Cain, he had been accused by MPs, aides and Ms Symonds of destroying Mr Johnson’s premiership with their aggressive antics and disdain for the Cabinet.

The pair had been central to Mr Johnson’s rise to power and stunning election victory last December, but tensions over the Covid-19 pandemic drove different factions into bloody civil war behind the famous black door of 10 Downing Street.

The Vote Leave veterans were furious they had been overruled by the PM over the appointment of Allegra Stratton, a pal of Ms Symonds, to a new role as the face of No10 in planned TV briefings and saw it as shot across their bows.

And Cummings and Johnson have been increasingly at odds since Mr Cummings controversial breaking lockdown-breaking trip to Barnard Castle, at the height of the pandemic.

It came to a head last night as the Brexit guru, who had originally planned to leave in the New Year, chose to exit through the front door past waiting photographers carrying a cardbox box full of his possessions.

The divisive figure was instrumental in the Brexit campaign and went on to be hired by Boris to deliver it following his rise to PM in 2019.

The Tory campaigner is known for his aggressive style – and was played by Benedict Cumberbatch in a Channel 4 drama about the referendum.

But Mr Cummings has long caused tensions in Government, wanting to overhaul the civil service and shake up crusty Whitehall departments.

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