Gerard Howlin: Careless Cummings could yet see Tories become 'they' instead of 'us'

Dominic Cummings makes a statement at 10 Downing Street after allegations he breached lockdown restrictions. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Dominic Cummings matters not for what he did, but for what he is. He is ultimately the creature — not the creator — of his prime minister, writes Gerard Howlin.

Boris Johnson is highly intelligent, demonstrably ruthless, and sufficiently confident as to be surrounded by people, chiefly Cummings, who lead his project. But it is his project. He may be a great delegator, impatient with detail, even lazy. Cummings may be the artificer of his campaigns and ideas. But there is only one font of authority, and that is the prime minister.