Dominic Cummings branded an ‘obsessed bully’ over row with PM’s fiancée Carrie Symonds

DOMINIC Cummings has been branded an “obsessed bully” over his feud with Boris Johnson’s fiancée.

Friends of Carrie Symonds told how she has been driven to despair by constant leaks to embarrass her.

They say she is convinced former No10 aide Mr Cummings is behind a campaign to undermine her.

One pal claimed: “He should pick on someone his own size who is able to fight back. He’s an obsessed bully. He should leave her alone.” The PM accused Mr Cummings of being the “chatty rat” involved in leaks after being urged to do so by Ms Symonds and her allies.

An MI5 investigation into one leak that forced the PM to rush forward lockdown plans pointed the finger at his adviser. An insider claimed: “Boris had no doubt Dom was behind private information being made public. Carrie and her allies convinced him he had to act.”

Mr Johnson knew that taking on Mr Cummings — described by ­former PM David Cameron as “a career psychopath” — was high risk. But he told one minister: “I have to lance the boil. It’s time to tackle the source of our problems.”

Mr Cummings quit Downing Street clutching a cardboard box last November after clashes with Ms Symonds. Senior sources say they have incontrovertible evidence he is behind leaks — despite his protestations in a 1,100-word statement on Friday.

A pal of Ms Symonds said: “It’s been really unpleasant for her. She’s had to put up with all these anonymous slurs while not being able to speak out herself. It was Carrie who put Boris up to hitting back. She’s had enough and thinks Dom should pick on people able to defend themselves.”

'Lying machine'

Allies say the stream of stories has taken its toll on her and created tension within her circle of friends. Those around her are said to have become “increasingly paranoid”.

Yesterday, Mr Cummings followed up his toxic attack on the PM by implying that ministers were too slow to close the UK border during the pandemic.

In response to a social media post showing how Vietnam had limited its death toll to just 35, he declare it a “V important issue re: learning from disaster”.

Downing Street is braced for further revelations from Mr Cummings when he gives evidence to a Commons committee on May 26.

Jittery colleagues fear he may have more bombshells in a “dossier of emails and internal memos” that could deliver a fatal blow to Mr Johnson’s premiership. One of six wannabe Tory leaders has put their dormant campaign team on standby in case he is able to bring him down.

Labour and Remainer opponents have joined criticism of the PM — who on Friday played football in Hartlepool ahead of next month’s by-election there.

Former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve claimed that Mr Johnson had turned No10 into a “lying machine”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for a full investigation into the refurbishment of Mr Johnson’s No11 flat.

He added: “Publish the details, have the full inquiry. Every day there’s more of this sleaze and, frankly, it stinks.”