Dominic Cummings Should Be Nowhere Near Government, Says Lord Heseltine

4 September 2019, 11:32

Dominic Cummings should be nowhere near the centre of government, according to Tory grandee Lord Heseltine.

Mr Cummings, the mastermind behind the Vote Leave campaign, is Boris Johnson's Special Political Advisor and has been credited with coming up with his strategy for Brexit.

But when James O'Brien asked if Mr Cummings would have had a place in any of the Conservative governments in which he served, Lord Heseltine responded simply: "No.

"You just have to look at his views. He shouldn't be anywhere near the centre of power in politics."

James O'Brien spoke to Michael Heseltine
James O'Brien spoke to Michael Heseltine. Picture: PA / LBC

James asked if the peer could see a return to normality in politics. He said: "In the end, I am an optimist. In the end, I trust the British people. They can see what's going on and I think they will vote in an election - which is bound to come, we can't go on much longer without a majority in parliament.

"My view is that the centre ground will once again assert itself. You have to have a degree of optimism in saying that.

"But that is how you win an election. You appeal to decent, moderate, sensible people with polices that are broadly of national interest and broadly sympathetic to a very large number of British people.

"You don't pander to the extremes."

LBC caller John believes police were 'right' to release Liverpool suspect's ethnicity

LBC caller John believes police were 'right' to release Liverpool suspect's ethnicity

'Mate, I love you'

James' conversation with Barry, who had a chemical castration, takes an unexpectedly wholesome turn

James vs LBC caller: Immigration debate ends more amicably than it starts

James O'Brien vs LBC caller: Immigration debate ends more amicably than it starts

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

Fishing Industry Consultant debunks 'complete lies' about water pollution

Fishing industry consultant tells James O'Brien we were 'lied to' about water pollution

James O'Brien callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien's callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien is joined by Sadiq Khan to take your calls

Speak to Sadiq: Mayor of London joins James O'Brien to take your calls

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform

'They've alienated every single subsection of society'

Caller Phil ruthlessly describes a Labour Party that 'doesn't appeal to anyone'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'