Boris Johnson now has a perfect chance to reinvent himself – I told you not to write him off

Dominic Cummings’s departure is not the beginning of the end for the PM – it is the beginning of the next phase, writes John Rentoul

The real Boris Johnson can be remarkably difficult to get a firm hold of, as David Cameron ruefully observed when he compared him to a greased piglet (PA)

The prime minister now has a good chance to reinvent himself, and put right some of the errors that marred his first year of government with a parliamentary majority. 

The vaccine breakthrough offers the hope of finally – eight months after he first promised it – sending the virus packing. The departure of Dominic Cummings means he can sue for peace in the wars against journalists, civil servants, Conservative MPs, Remainers and “the establishment” that his brilliant adviser waged. 

He can reshuffle his ministers to promote on merit rather than Vote Leave ideology, and he will soon present a new face to the world, that of Allegra Stratton, his spokesperson who will hold daily televised media briefings.