The prime minister told MPs “Mission – largely accomplished, for now” on Wednesday (Image: Pictures: PA/AFP)
Dominic Cummings claims Boris Johnson is backing “human hand grenade” Liz Truss to be the next prime minister because he “thinks ‘she’s going to blow up and he can come back'”.
The British leader has refused to say who he is backing in the race for Number 10 after being forced out of office by his own party.
But his former top aide claims he favors the foreign minister over her rival Rishi Sunak, whose resignation triggered his downfall.
Posting an extract on his blog, Mr Cummings said Ms Truss took his unflattering nickname for herself, the “human hand grenade”, as a compliment because she “gets things done”.
He went on to say that this was meant to imply that she had ’caused havoc’.
Using his usual shopping trolley emoji to address Mr Johnson, he said: “Why [is Boris Johnson] supporting the human hand grenade?
Because he knows she’s angry and thinks she’s going to blow up and he might come back. Why did I give her that nickname? Because she blows up anything she touches.
It is one of a number of attacks on Ms Truss by Mr Cummings, prompting speculation he favors Mr Sunak, who has denied taking advice from him.
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Johnson’s supporter Nadine Dorris previously told The Daily Mail: “People have to ask themselves: why is Cummings supporting Rishi?
“The answer to that question is because Cummings believes he can control Rishi and sees a role for himself back in government, and that’s pretty terrifying.”
It comes after Mr Johnson told MPs “mission largely accomplished, for now” in his signing off during his final Prime Minister’s Questions.
As a nod to The Terminator, he also jokes “hasta la vista baby”, a catchphrase made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger – whose character is also famous for saying “I’ll be back”.
A friend of the Tory leader is reported to have claimed he “really thinks he’s going to come back”.
Another told the Mirror he had been “deluded” but confirmed he wanted to return to the post.
His hero Winston Churchill served a second term six years after he was deposed after World War II.
Mr Johnson’s closest allies – including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries – have backed Mr Truss, with observers concluding he is also likely to favor her.
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Around 180,000 Tory MPs will now decide which of the two candidates should lead Britain after Conservative MPs voted against Penny Mordaunt in the final round of voting this afternoon.
Ms Truss promised “a clear vision for our country and economy – and the experience and determination to achieve it”.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak – who has been criticized for being out of touch – said “working people up and down the country would prefer to have a prime minister with a long-term plan, one who doesn’t just bend with the wind”.
The former chancellor was the favorite among Tory MPs, winning 137 votes in the last round to Ms Truss’ 113.
But bookies peg Mrs Truss as the favorite after early indications suggest she has more support among the crucial electorate that will make the final decision.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Downing Street and Mrs Truss for comment.
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