TIPPED FOR THE TOP
Boris Johnson’s No.10 Head of Press in talks to take Chief of Staff job after job is turned down by advisers
A BREXITEER and ex-reporter is tipped to become Boris Johnson’s new chief of staff, it's been revealed.
Currently employed as the PM’s communications tsar, Lee Cain, 39, is said to be in “advanced discussions” about his promotion after the job was spurned by advisers.
6
6
Loyal Cain had earlier served under Johnson’s aide Dominic Cummings in the 2016 Brexit “Vote Leave” campaign.
The trusted adviser worked as a press officer for the Brexit push, before helping to run Johnson's leadership bid.
His promotion is part of a shake-up of Johnson’s Downing Street operation, reports .
The paper says the PM's "decision to promote Lee Cain will entrench the influence of No 10’s Vote Leave faction in an apparent riposte to those urging him to reset his premiership".
His promotion to chief of staff means he'll work as Johnson's 'fixer', says the .
Cain will ultimately be overseeing civil servants at Whitehall.
The high-powered role had previously been rejected by chief adviser Dominic Cummings, and fellow leading adviser Lord Lister.
A Whitehall source said: "The PM desperately needs a chief of staff.
6
"Dom (Cummings)... has always said he does not want the title but won't serve under anyone who has it.
"But he would be able to work with Lee, because he knows he is an ally, not a threat."
It comes just one year after Cain's appointment as No10's communication boss.
A former reporter with about 10 years' experience in the media, Cain started out in local paper, the Leek Post and Times in Staffordshire, before writing for the national press.
The Mirror also published pics of Cain "dressed as our bird to taunt Tories" including David Cameron during the 2010 election campaign.
"At one point he was pictured being led away by police as Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha looked on in the background," the paper added.
Earlier this year Cain was embroiled in a media walk-out from Downing Street.
In February political journalists left in protest after Number 10 ordered some reporters from media outlets to leave a Brexit briefing.
6
Selected correspondents were invited for the briefing from officials, but journos from organisations who were not on the hand-picked list also tried to get in.
According to those present, when political journos arrived inside they were asked their names and told to stand on opposite sides of the entrance hall.
The Independent's political editor Andy Woodcock said Cain then invited those on one side to enter and told those on the other to leave.
When his actions were questioned, he told reporters: "We are welcome to brief whoever we want whenever we want."
later reported that "Cain may have played chicken, but he’s not just a puppet – and not afraid to shake things up as Boris Johnson’s PR man".
Most read in News
By "picking a fight" with Lobby journalists weeks after Johnson was returned to power with a big majority, "he signalled a shift in the Government’s media relations strategy", it added.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The Sun recently wrote about the PM introducing daily White House-style TV press briefings after millions tuned in for the coronavirus conferences.
The plan was devised by Downing Street communications director Lee Cain.
6
6
Boris Johnson reveals thousands of rapid coronavirus tests being sent across the nation and plan for mass testing students
Topics