• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Friend of Carrie Symonds named as ‘chatty rat’ suspect in Covid leak probe

Dominic Cummings said Boris Johnson wanted the inquiry stopped after he was told special adviser Henry Newman could be implicated.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2021-04-24 12:14
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

A close friend of Boris Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds has been accused of being the so-called “chatty rat” who leaked plans for a second coronavirus lockdown.

In an explosive attack on the Prime Minister, his former top aide Dominic Cummings said Henry Newman, a special adviser, had been identified as the likely culprit.

Mr Cummings claimed Mr Johnson had been so alarmed when he was told, he wanted the inquiry into the leak halted as he would have “very serious problems” with Ms Symonds if it resulted in Mr Newman being fired.

Mr Johnson has denied the claim.

“Chatty rat” leak

Over the past years, Mr Newman has risen steadily through the ranks of Tory special advisers having begun working in Whitehall in the coalition years under David Cameron.

In 2015 he joined Michael Gove at the Ministry of Justice, forming a close alliance with the cabinet minister.

When the Brexit referendum was called the following year he went to work for the Vote Leave campaign run by Mr Cummings, the man now pointing the finger at him over the “chatty rat” leak.

Following their victory, he was reportedly among a group of Mr Gove’s close friends who advised him to scupper Mr Johnson’s leadership bid by standing himself.

After Theresa May became prime minister, Mr Newman joined Open Europe, a pro-Brexit think tank, becoming a prominent commentator and supporter of her controversial Brexit plan.

RelatedPosts

Bernie Sanders slams Netanyahu amid White House visit

Ed Davey urges Keir Starmer to use Macron state visit to ‘show united front’ against Trump’s trade war

“Keir Starmer needs to listen”: Greens call for wealth tax

Panel of 2024 Labour voters say they warmed to Farage after I’m A Celeb

When Mr Johnson became Prime Minister in 2019, Mr Newman was reunited with Mr Gove in the Cabinet Office where he had been put in charge of the Brexit preparations.

“Favourite people”

Earlier this year he moved to become a senior adviser to Mr Johnson in No 10 where he joined a number of other former proteges of Mr Gove.

His elevation was seen in part due to the influence of Ms Symonds who once reportedly described him as one of her “favourite people”.

It came in the wake of Mr Cummings’ dramatic departure amid the fallout of a bitter internal power struggle with the Prime Minister’s fiancee.

Related: ‘Unethical, foolish and possibly illegal’: Cummings posts blog on PM’s flat revamp

Tags: COVID-19 Coronavirus

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← Count Binface says he is ‘more qualified’ than London Mayor opponents ← CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->