Dominic Cummings alleges that Rishi Sunak sought a 'secret deal' for election assistance

Dominic Cummings, former strategist for Boris Johnson, claims he discussed a "secret deal" with Rishi Sunak to support his election success. This controversial disclosure could upset Conservative MPs who view Cummings as a contentious character, particularly after his rift with Johnson.

Cummings shared in his Substack blog that he spoke with Sunak twice, initially after Sunak's ascent to prime minister in 2022 and again in July. According to Cummings, Sunak sought a covert agreement where Cummings would help win the upcoming election in return for a serious government post-election.

Although Downing Street confirmed the meeting with Sunak, they denied any job offer, describing it as a general political discussion.

In the negotiations detailed by Cummings, his election support hinged on prioritizing issues such as nuclear weapons, pandemics, defense procurement, artificial intelligence, and repairing government institutions, a project he claimed was abandoned by Johnson.

Cummings refused Sunak's alleged counter-proposal for him to work discreetly on politics and communication with the promise of addressing his priorities post-election.

Cummings, once a key Johnson aide, had played a major role in the Conservative Party's significant 2019 election win and in pushing the Brexit agenda.

Recently, Johnson suggested that Sunak was installed as a "stooge" by Cummings, a claim made during an interview with Nadine Dorries, who had written about Johnson's downfall.

Labour's Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth, criticized Sunak for engaging with Cummings, infamously known for breaking lockdown rules during the pandemic.