Dominic Cummings’ departure has been plunged into confusion, after No 10 refused to say if the controversial aide has formally quit or when he will leave.
It is also unclear whether Boris Johnson’s key adviser – who has lost out in a bitter Downing Street power struggle – will sever his links entirely, or possibly retain a ‘hot desk’.
Mr Cummings has said he intends to stick by a timetable set at the start of this year, under which he would become “largely redundant” by the end of 2020.
But the prime minister’s spokesman refused to answer questions about his future, claiming his comments, made to the BBC, “probably speak for themselves”.
However, those comments – in which Mr Cummings said his “position hasn’t changed since my January blog” – failed to answer when exactly he will leave, or rule out any possible future role.
He also claimed, amid the infighting over the resignation of his close ally Lee Cain, the former No 10 communications chief, that “rumours of me threatening to resign are invented”.
“He will be missed but, then again, we’re moving into a different phase,” Mr Shapps said.
But, asked to confirm the departure, the spokesman, told journalists: “There is nothing more that I, personally, can add.”
Across the Channel, one senior MEP said he expected the loss of Mr Cummings – the cheerleader for a no-deal Brexit if necessary – would soften the UK’s stance.
It was “probably the sign that Johnson has begun his U-turn and will in the end accept EU conditions” for a trade deal, said Phillippe Lambert, who sat on the European Parliament’s Brexit committee.
But the claim was stamped on by the prime minister’s spokesman, who said: “Absolutely not. That is simply false. The government’s position in relation to the future trade agreement negotiations is unchanged.”
The negotiations remain deadlocked, ahead of an EU deadline of next Thursday, when it is believed Brussels could make a “take-it-or leave-it” offer.
Despite the confusion over Mr Cummings’ position, his critics on the Tory backbenches have hailed his departure as a long-awaited chance to reset the much-criticised No 10 operation.
“Clearly there are concerns about the dismissive attitude sometimes shown by Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings towards people in government and MPs on the backbenches,” said Theresa Villiers, the former environment secretary said.
“And this is an opportunity to move on from that and to have a more collaborative approach.”
