Mr Brexit Dominic Cummings PM's top adviser to leave No 10 with immediate effect
Source: BBC
Boris Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings has left Number 10 with immediate effect, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says.
Mr Cummings spoke to the PM earlier, she said, and it was decided it was best for him to go now rather than next month after days of turmoil in No 10.
The former Vote Leave supremo had been at the centre of a power struggle in Downing Street this week.
The PM's director of communications Lee Cain has also left.
Mr Cummings was seen leaving No 10 a short while ago carrying a cardboard box.
On Thursday, Downing Street said Mr Cummings would be leaving by Christmas after a row over how No 10 is run and the appointment of a new chief of staff to Mr Johnson.
But Laura Kuenssberg said his departure had been brought forward given the "upset in the team" in Downing Street, for which she said it had been a "difficult week".
She said there had been long-running tensions between different factions in No 10 but this "slow burning fuse exploded fast when it finally happened".
Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain are long-time colleagues, having worked together on the Leave campaign during the EU referendum.
When Mr Cain's exit was announced on Wednesday, it prompted rumours that his ally would also step down.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54938050
The Joe Biden effect
= new reply since forum marked as read
think Boris is open to that ... 
