One of Carrie Johnson’s closest allies leaves Downing Street: Henry Cook who has worked in Whitehall for over a decade is stepping down as senior adviser to PM as ‘reset’ of No 10 team continues
- Henry Cook to leave Whitehall after more than ten years working in Government
- Mr Cook is the second of ‘the two Henries’ to move on from Downing Street staff
- He and Henry Newman were considered close allies of PM’s wife Carrie Johnson
One of Carrie Johnson’s closest allies is leaving Whitehall as the shuffling of the Prime Minister’s top team continues.
Henry Cook is leaving his position as a senior adviser to Boris Johnson, according to the Telegraph, after more than a decade for the Government.
Formerly part of the team working with the levelling-up secretary, Michael Gove, Mr Cook has spent the past two years working on the Covid response, the newspaper reports.
But as the Prime Minister unveiled his ‘Living with Covid’ plan, it is understood Mr Cook feels the timing is right to move on from his role.
A Downing Street source suggested to the Telegraph that Monday’s announcement was the ideal time for him to seek a career elsewhere as the Government ends all legal virus restrictions and tapers pandemic spending.
It comes just weeks after his colleague – and second half of ‘the two Henries’ – Henry Newman was moved out of Downing Street to work with Mr Gove in the Levelling Up department.
Senior Government adviser Henry Cook, a close ally of Carrie Johnson (pictured with Boris) is leaving Downing Street after more than a decade working in Government, it has been reported
Mr Newman is also a long-standing friend of Mrs Johnson and his removal from No 10 followed pressure from Conservative MPs to disband the clique which had allegedly formed around the Prime Minister’s wife.
Mr Newman may be embroiled in the partygate scandal himself, after reports suggested he had allegedly attended a party in the flat shared by Mr and Mrs Johnson during Covid measures.
Boris Johnson has made a myriad of changes to his top team as he continues to face scrutiny over the partygate scandal.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister saw at least five of his more senior advisers resign including his longstanding policy chief Munira Mirza and his communications director Jack Doyle.
Henry Newman (pictured), a long-standing friend of the Prime Minister’s wife was moved from No 10 to return to work for Michael Gove in the Levelling Up department earlier this month
Resignations also followed from chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, and special adviser in the policy unit Elena Narozanski.
Brexiteer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay, 49, has been made the PM’s chief of staff, while former GB News presenter and outspoken Remainer Guto Harri, 55, is heading up the communications role.
Mr Johnson said at the time both men will ‘improve how No 10 operates, strengthen the role of my Cabinet and backbench colleagues, and accelerate our defining mission to level up the country’.
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