UK: Boris Johnson's chief communications officer Lee Cain resigns

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Johnson confidante Lee Cain: Job abandonment for no reason

Photo: Frank Augstein / AP

British Prime Minister's communications chief Boris Johnson resigns.

Lee Cain announced on Wednesday evening that he will be leaving his post at the end of the year.

"It has been a privilege to have worked as a consultant to Mr. Johnson for the past three years and to be part of the team that helped him win the leadership of the Tory Party and secure the largest Conservative majority in three decades," said Cain.

He did not give any reasons for his resignation.

Disguised as a chicken for the "Daily Mirror", then "Vote Leave"

Cain is a close confidante of Johnson consultant Dominic Cummings.

Both are companions of Johnson from the election campaign for the Brexit referendum in 2016, in which the British narrowly voted to leave the EU.

The former journalist Cain had changed sides in the past.

In the 2010 election campaign, he followed conservative politicians in election campaign appearances for the left-wing tabloid "Daily Mirror", still disguised as a chicken, and made fun of them.

He later switched to the “Vote Leave” Brexit campaign.

Cain is now under discussion as the new chief of staff

According to a report in the "Times", communications chief Cain is said to have been seen as Johnson's new chief of staff, which is said to have met with displeasure from ministers, advisers and members of parliament.

According to TimesRadio journalist Tom Newton Dunn, Johnson consultant Cummings is said to be "very unhappy" about Cain's departure and to have even considered resigning at times.

According to the BBC, the resignation of Brexit negotiator David Frost, who is also part of the Cain camp, cannot be ruled out.

Power struggle within the British government

Meanwhile, according to media reports, a heated dispute has broken out in the British government.

Apparently there is a power struggle between different groups within the management level.

According to information from the BBC, the current chief government spokesman, James Slack, will follow Cain in the role of communications chief.

The government around Johnson had recently experienced fierce opposition from the House of Lords because of a planned change to the Brexit agreement.

With the law, the government wants to subsequently unilaterally change the already valid agreement between London and Brussels on the exit of Great Britain from the EU and to cancel parts of it.

The House of Lords voted against it with 433 votes to 165 - but the vote is not binding.

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fek / dpa / Reuters