Boris Johnson’s controversial strategist, Dominic Cummings embroiled in fresh controversy

Dominic Cummings has achieved notoriety following repeated caustic encounters with the British media

Boris Johnson’s controversial strategist, Dominic Cummings, has generated fresh negative publicity for the government following allegations he is a member of a scientific group advising the British government on managing the coronavirus crisis.

According to an investigative report by the Guardian (April 24), Cummings and a data scientist he worked with on the Brexit Vote Leave campaign have been attending meetings of the “secret” scientific group.

The data scientist, identified as Ben Warner, accompanied Cummings and 22 other people to a “crucial” convening of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) on March 23, the same day the Prime Minister announced a nationwide lockdown in a televised address.

Sage is comprised of a panel of medical and scientific experts, chaired by the UK's chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance, whose job is to provide independent advice to the government during a crisis.

For its part, Downing Street admits that Cummings has attended meetings with “senior” scientists but it denies he is a member of Sage.

However, even if Downing Street’s version of events is true – and Cummings is not a fully paid up member of Sage – the very fact he has been attending meetings is likely to prove extremely controversial.

Opposition parties maintain that political advisers have no business interacting with SAGE, which shapes Britain’s response to the coronaviru pandemic.

To that end, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told Sky News: "We need to understand if Mr Cummings was contributing to the debate or influencing the debate".

"They [the government] need to publish the minutes of the SAGE committee so we can all understand the advice the government has had and then fully understand the judgements the government has made based on that advice”, Ashworth said whilst demanding transparency.

Meanwhile, a former government chief scientific adviser has told the Guardian he is “shocked” to discover there are political figures involved in Sage meetings.

Sir David King said: “If you are giving science advice, your advice should be free of any political bias”.