Dominic Cummings departure means ‘Brexit sell-out’, says Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage has insisted the exit of Boris Johnson's top aide from Downing Street means a "Brexit sell-out" is looming.

Brexit Party leader Mr Farage said he had never liked the British prime minister's outgoing chief adviser Dominic Cummings, but admitted he was concerned about the consequences of his departure.

Mr Cummings left Number 10 carrying a box on Friday evening as he quit as Mr Johnson's right-hand man, although he will continue to work for Boris Johnson until mid-December.

Mr Farage tweeted: “It is well documented that I have never liked Dominic Cummings but he has backed Brexit.

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“Seeing him leave Number 10 carrying a cardboard box tells me a Brexit sell-out is close.”

The comments came after Downing Street insisted that Mr Cummings’s departure would not affect Brexit talks.

Mr Cummings's dramatic exit from Number 10 comes at a crucial juncture in the post-Brexit talks between the UK and Brussels.

The British prime minister's official spokesman James Slack insisted that suggestions London could compromise on key principles in the wake of Mr Cummings's decision to leave were "simply false".

Mr Cummings was widely seen as the mastermind behind the victorious Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum.

Talks on a free trade agreement between the UK and EU have been continuing this week in London and are due to “pause” over the weekend before resuming next week in Brussels.

London and the EU are trying to hammer out a post-Brexit trade deal after the current transition period finishes on December 31st.

It is understood that Mr Cummings will still be employed until the middle of December, although reports suggest he will be working from home.

Speculation has surrounded the future of the UK's chief Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost but he has remained in his role as talks reach a heightened stage. - PA