A (partial) defence of Dominic Cummings

As a liberal remainer type, I’m not sad to see Dominic Cummings leave Number 10. I fundamentally disagreed with his agenda, from Brexit to civil service reform to a more active state aid programme. Yet I cannot chime in with those saying Cummings was a failure, an ad man who blustered his way into the heart of government due to Boris Johnson’s weakmindedness. Why? Because it simply isn’t true. And those Labour supporters who are speaking of Cummings’ exit as one of the few highlights of this dismal year have revealed an uncomfortable truth: they wish they had someone like him on their side.

This is nowhere clearer than in the criticism of Cummings for his campaigning nous. Cummings has been condemned rather than congratulated by plenty of those who don’t like the fact they lost the EU referendum. His enemies assume he employed dark tricks to win but in reality, Cummings is brilliant at campaigning because he understands his audience and pursues them single-mindedly.