Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings: A Turbulent Partnership
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his political advisor, Dominic Cummings, have a relationship as complex and unpredictable as an Emu with Rod Hull. This duo has been central to the political landscape shifting due to their strategic and often controversial decisions.
The Golden Goose: Boris Johnson’s Dependence on Dominic Cummings
Boris Johnson views Dominic Cummings as his golden goose, an observation that is not unreasonable given his track record of effectively distilling complicated issues into simple and memorable messaging strategies. This talent has undeniably benefited Johnson throughout his political career.
“Take Back Control” and “Get Brexit Done”
One of the most notable campaigns was “Take Back Control,” which Johnson embraced during the 2016 Brexit referendum. Despite a significant gamble on the Leave campaign to advance his political career, Johnson capitalized on this messaging to garner public support.
In the 2019 General Election, Johnson leveraged another potent phrase: “Get Brexit Done.” This campaign strategy helped Johnson secure a substantial parliamentary majority, particularly by poaching seats in the North of England that had been traditionally Labour seats for decades. These successes clearly impressed Johnson, leading him to maintain a close relationship with Cummings.
The Tenuous Nature of Their Alliance
Despite his reliance on Cummings, Johnson has also demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice Cummings’ loyalty when it no longer serves his own political interests. One of the most egregious examples of this occurred when Cummings breached lockdown restrictions. Instead of sacking Cummings, Johnson defended him to an unnecessary degree, indicating a shift from respect to dependency.
A Less Than Loyal Combination
In contrast to his former boss, Michael Gove, at the Department of Education, Cummings is not an ideologue but has specific ideas about how government should function in the UK. He is willing to manipulate Johnson and his government to achieve his goals, remaining loyal only as long as he finds utility in doing so.
The Guardian’s Analysis: Boris Johnson Defense of Cummings
Marina Hyde summarized this relationship succinctly in her article for The Guardian. In her words, “Anyone who imagines his defense of Cummings is born of loyalty is unfamiliar with the concept Boris Johnson. This is actually a simple story: a man with no ideas is too terrified to sack his ideas man.”
She further elaborates, likening Cummings to a “talking car to Johnson’s Hasselhoff,” emphasizing that Johnson’s reliance on Cummings’ ideas is akin to relying on a car without a working engine. This dichotomy highlights the precarious nature of their relationship and the constant manipulation that has become core to their political partnership.
The article emphasizes that Cummings has not left Johnson’s employ because Johnson fears the repercussions of sacking him. Such a narrative underscores the fragile and often one-sided nature of their alliance, where Cummings’ loyalty is predicated on his utility to Johnson.
Johnson and Cummings’ relationship remains one of the most intriguing in contemporary British politics. As both figureheads continue to navigate the complexities of politics, it is clear that their partnership, while advantageous in many ways, is more fragile and more likely to disintegrate when it no longer serves one or both of their interests.
Conclusion
The relationship between Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings is a case study in political manipulation, strategic partnership, and mutual exploitation. Their alliance has been a significant force in shaping recent British politics, yet it is one that is inherently unstable and marked by a continual balancing act of mutual dependency and estrangement.