Cummings AND goings! No 10 guru Dom becomes figure of fun as social media ridicule his Downing Street exit with a series of mocking memes
Shocked Britons have taken to social media to share their thoughts on Dominic Cummings leaving Downing Street tonight.
The Prime Minister's former Svengali casually strolled out of Downing Street while clutching a cardboard box this evening - in a peculiar move that set the nation's imagination wild.
Some said Cummings resembled a schoolboy taking the class hamster home for the weekend.
Others comically speculated that the box could contain something more sinister as it came on Friday 13 - a day widely considered unlucky.
Some Twitter users shared their joy at the controversial adviser potentially leaving his post while others wondered who would fill the power vacuum he could leave behind.
The move follows a brutal reckoning that saw Cummings' closest ally Lee Cain fall on his sword, having failed to secure the key role of Mr Johnson's chief of staff.
Dominic Cummings casually strolled out of Downing Street while clutching a cardboard box this evening - in a peculiar move that set the nation's imagination wild
The move follows a brutal reckoning that saw Cummings's quit after a brutal reckoning that saw his closest ally Lee Cain fall on his sword, having failed to secure the key role of Mr Johnson's chief of staff
Shocked Britons have taken to social media to share their thoughts on Cummings leaving Downing Street this evening. One person said he resembled a schoolboy taking the class hamster home for the weekend
Others comically speculated that the box could contain something more sinister as his shock move came on Friday 13 - a day widely-considered to be unlucky. One Twitter user referenced the film Se7en where Brad Pitt's character discovered his wife's decapitated head in a box
One Tweet used a still from Chris Lilley's Ja'mie: Private School Girl to illustrate their thoughts
Some Twitter users shared their joy at the controversial adviser leaving his powerful post
The former-Svengali is not due to leave his powerful Government role for more than a month, but capping a tumultuous 48 hours at the heart of Government he reportedly took the decision to go straight away after a lunchtime meeting with the Prime Minister.
Mr Cain, who resigned as director of communications on Wednesday night, is also believed to be leaving that post with immediate effect.
Downing Street tonight said that Sir Edward Lister, a long-serving adviser to Mr Johnson, would become chief of staff 'for an interim period pending a permanent appointment to the post'.
The developments mark the end of the Vote Leave clique's iron grip on government, which has been the subject of a mounting backlash from senior Conservatives frustrated at their 'aggressive' approach, 'incompetent' handling of the coronavirus crisis, and clumsy U-turns on issues such as free school meals during the holidays.
One senior Tory said: 'I've never been sent so many emojis of champagne and wine glasses.'
One Twitter user gave the shock resignation the title 'Cummings is Goings' in a post
Another reaction involved a clip of a man dancing next to a sign: 'You don't have to be crazy to work here but it helps'
Others wondered who would fill the power vacuum he is sure to leave behind. An empty puppet is used to illustrate this person's concerns
This image of a vampire was used to illustrate one person's thoughts about Cummings leaving
Another former adviser said of Mr Cummings' decision to leave through the front door: 'Such an attention seeker.'
And MP Sir Roger Gale told Times Radio: 'I think the right thing has happened - I think it is belated. I have been saying for months that since Barnard Castle incident Dominic Cummings' position is untenable. And it's got more untenable as he's increasingly become the story.
'When you've got a PM trying to deal with the biggest crisis since the Second World War and Brexit negotiations, to have a bunch of schoolkids squabbling in Downing Street just isn't the solution.'
Allies of Boris Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds, reported to have played a key role in the development, were reported to have started referring to the Brexit campaign veterans as the 'mad mullahs'.
As well as Mr Cummings' full-frontal departure this evening, workmen were also seen in Downing Street this afternoon loading pictures into a van.
It came as one of Ms Symonds friends was tipped to fill the vacant position, if it is filled. The Telegraph reported that former chancellor Sajid Javid was being lined up for the role.
However, such an appointment would raise eyebrows, as Mr Javid only quit No11 in February after Mr Johnson backed his aide Cummings rather than his top minister in a row over advisers.
It would be rather a step down for an MP who had held one of the great Offices of State and who recently landed a lucrative second job with US bank JP Morgan.
A source close to the former chancellor said: 'Sajid thinks getting an experienced Chief of Staff is a good idea, but it's not a role he has ever been offered or considered for himself.'