Dominic Cummings tells Lords UK system is ‘shitshow’ in abrasive return

Dominic Cummings appeared before a House of Lords committee to criticize the UK civil service, describing the governmental system as a “duff” framework filled with “shitshows” and claiming that Vladimir Putin is not the country’s main enemy. The former chief adviser to Boris Johnson delivered an abrasive performance on Wednesday morning inside committee room one, wearing a crumpled shirt, green anorak, and red baseball cap.

House of Lords Constitution Committee Hearing

The Lords constitution committee invited Cummings to speak as part of an inquiry into the UK’s balance of powers and constitutional safeguards. During the session, he lamented the modern civil service model established by 19th-century reforms, arguing that ministers were previously more accountable to the UK parliament. “That is the system under which the British Empire grew and we took over the world. Why can’t we have that system back?” he asked the peers.

Cummings stated that elite talent no longer wants to work in government because institutions have become bogged down in PowerPoint presentations. He claimed that the cabinet office has grown too powerful and now dictates policy, leaving government operations staffed by “the worst kind of HR people”.

Criticism of Vladimir Putin and the Ministry of Defence

Shifting focus to international threats and domestic administration, Cummings dismissed Vladimir Putin as “a tiny problem” compared to institutional inertia within the Ministry of Defence (MoD). He accused civil servants and cabinet office lawyers of launching “lawfare against the SAS” and obstructing the military from learning about drone warfare from the conflict in Ukraine.

“It’s not Putin who’s launching lawfare against the SAS; it’s not Putin who’s destroyed procurement inside the MoD,” Cummings told the committee. He alleged that civil service personnel warn military staff returning from Ukraine not to share operational insights with senior officials to protect departmental budgets.

Public Trust and Institutional Breakdown

When questioned by a peer about whether the UK constitution is under threat, Cummings confirmed that it is. He attributed this danger to a general collapse in public trust. “Because of the internet, people can now see the lies they have been told [by government],” he said.

As Cummings lectured the room, committee members reacted with a mix of grimaces and smirks. Committee chair Thomas Galbraith, Lord Strathclyde, remarked, “Dominic, I sense you’re warming to your theme,” while Cummings compared the dynamic between politicians, civil servants, and the public to the cult 1980s television show Yes Minister.

Frequently Asked Questions

What position did Dominic Cummings previously hold in the UK government?

Dominic Cummings served as Boris Johnson’s conflict-prone chief adviser in Downing Street for most of 2020 before transitioning to work as a consultant and occasional Substack author.

Why was Dominic Cummings invited to speak before the House of Lords?

The Lords constitution committee invited him to speak as a long-time critic of the system during an inquiry examining the UK’s balance of powers and constitutional safeguards.

What did Cummings say about the Ministry of Defence procurement?

He alleged that internal procurement systems inside the Ministry of Defence have been destroyed by civil servants rather than external adversaries, and claimed officials block the military from adopting lessons learned from drones in Ukraine.