Dominic Cummings: Damaging legacy of ‘unelected bureaucrat’ will take years to undo, says Guy Verhofstadt

European Parliament’s former Brexit chief takes aim at departing aide

Former European Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt

Dominic Cummings' damaging legacy at the heart of the British government will take years to undo, one of his arch continental critics has said.

Guy Verhofstadt, who served as the European Parliament's outspoken Brexit coordinator, said Boris Johnson's outgoing advisor had proved to be an "unrealistic ideologue" on Brexit.

Mr Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister and a staunch critic of Brexit, also branded Mr Cummings an "unelected bureaucrat" - arguing there was "so much irony" in his attacks on the EU during the referendum.

Now a backbench MEP in the European Parliament, the Belgian liberal has been free to speak his mind of the issues of the day – a liberty he has taken up with gusto on topics ranging from the US presidential election to Brexit.

His latest intervention on Mr Cummings' departure shows the extent to which machinations in Downing Street are being watch in Brussels, amid hopes that his departure could presage a reassessment of Britain's strategy in trade talks.

The UK and EU have just a week to come to an agreement, and with time slipping away neither side appears keen to budge. Mr Cummings is widely regarded as a hardliner in the EU capital, given his role in the Vote Leave campaign and the way he has been presented in the British press, which is read by EU officials.

 Phillippe Lamberts, another MEP who sat on the European Parliament’s Brexit committee, this week said Mr Cummings’ departure was “probably the sign that Johnson has begun his U-turn and will in the end accept EU conditions" for a trade deal.

But Westminster insiders have warned that a change of course from the government attributable to Mr Cummings' departure is unlikely, and that is role in the latter-day Brexit saga is sometimes overstated.

"Unelected bureaucrats. Unrealistic ideologues... There's so much irony to the Cummings story," Mr Verhofstadt said.

"But one thing's for sure... the legacy called Brexit is damage that unfortunately will not be undone for years."

Earlier this week the Renew Europe MEP welcomed a speech by John Major criticising the British government's approach to Brexit.

"Former prime ministers are notably reluctant to criticise successors," Mr Verhofstadt said.

"On Brexit, ALL of them have spoken in the harshest of terms. Makes you wonder..."