If they start fighting, operating in cliques and withholding information from each other, it can affect the PM's political direction - and it means mistakes that affect people’s lives are more likely. A Downing Street at war has other consequences too. A leading Conservative backbencher said there had been "unhappiness" about the Downing Street operation for some time. Officials plan to use an old colonial courtroom in 9 Downing Street, where off-camera press briefings were moved to before the pandemic. It was suggested he could become the PM's chief of staff – giving him unrivalled power across Whitehall.

Source: Daily Mirror November 12, 2020 19:18 UTC