Dominic Cummings Biography: Dominic McKenzie Cummings born 25 November 1971 is a British political strategist best known for serving as Chief Adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson from 24 July 2019 until his resignation on 13 November 2020. Between 2007 and 2014, he acted as a special adviser to Michael Gove, including during Gove’s tenure as Education Secretary. Cummings stepped down when Gove was reassigned as Chief Whip in a cabinet reshuffle. From 2015 to 2016, he served as director of Vote Leave, the campaign that played a central role in the successful push for the UK to leave the European Union during the 2016 referendum. Following Boris Johnson’s appointment as Prime Minister in July 2019, Cummings joined Downing Street as Chief Adviser.
Dominic Cummings Biography
Dominic Cummings was never likely to leave Downing Street quietly after his departure at the end of 2020. But the scale and severity of his allegations about the inner workings of government during the coronavirus crisis are virtually unprecedented in modern British politics. Few former advisers have ever made such a barrage of potentially damaging claims about a sitting prime minister. Critics argue that Cummings is driven by a personal vendetta against Boris Johnson and is determined to see him removed from office. Cummings, however, maintains that his motivation stems from a desire to fix what he sees as a dysfunctional and chaotic system of governance.
Dominic Cummings Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
Dominic Mckenzie Cummings
25 November 1971 |
|---|---|
| Spouse |
Mary Wakefield
(m. 2011) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Durham School |
| Alma mater | Exeter College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Political adviser |
| Known for | Special adviser to Education Secretary Michael Gove, 2010–2014; Campaign Director of Vote Leave, 2015–2016; Chief adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 2019–2020 |
| Category | Politician Biography |
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About Dominic Cummings
Dominic Mckenzie Cummings is a British political strategist who served as Chief Adviser to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from 24 July 2019 until he resigned on 13 November 2020.
Dominic Cummings Wiki
- Born: 25 November 1971 (age 53 years), Durham, United Kingdom
- Spouse: Mary Wakefield (m. 2011)
- Education: Exeter College (1994), Durham School
- Organization founded: Vote Leave
- Previous office: Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2019–2020)
- Height: 1.73 m
- Full name: Dominic Mckenzie Cummings
Early Life
Dominic Cummings was born in Durham on 25 November 1971. His father, Robert, worked primarily as an oil rig project manager for the construction firm Laing before becoming a farmer. His mother, Morag, pursued a career in education, becoming a teacher and behavioural specialist following her private schooling and university education. Cummings is also the nephew of the late Sir John Laws, a former Lord Justice of Appeal.
He began his education at a state primary school before moving on to the independent Durham School. Cummings later attended Exeter College, Oxford, where he studied Ancient and Modern History under the historian Norman Stone. He graduated with a First in 1994. One of his tutors described him in the New Statesman as intellectually restless and skeptical of conventional thinking, comparing him to Robespierre—a figure driven to dismantle broken systems.
Political Career
Between 1999 and 2002, Dominic Cummings served as campaign director for Business for Sterling, an organization that opposed the UK adopting the euro. In 2002, he briefly became Director of Strategy for Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, despite not being a party member. His goal was to help modernize the party, but he left after just eight months, frustrated by what he saw as ineffective reforms, later describing Duncan Smith as “incompetent.”
In December 2003, Cummings co-founded the New Frontiers Foundation with James Frayne. Emerging from Business for Sterling, the foundation was a free-market, libertarian, and Eurosceptic think tank. As its director, Cummings was seen as a dynamic and controversial figure, with The Times describing him as “youthful” and “mercurial,” known for uniting unlikely allies such as Bob Geldof and Labour MP Frank Field in opposition to the single European currency.
Personal Life
In December 2011, Dominic Cummings married Mary Wakefield, the sister of his friend Jack Wakefield, a former director of the Firtash Foundation. Mary has had a long career at The Spectator magazine, where she began working during Boris Johnson’s tenure as editor and now serves as commissioning editor. She is the daughter of Sir Humphry Wakefield, 2nd Baronet of Chillingham Castle in Northumberland, and Katherine Wakefield (née Baring), the elder daughter of Evelyn Baring, 1st Baron Howick of Glendale. The couple welcomed a son in 2016, whom they named (Alexander) Cedd, after the Anglo-Saxon saint. Cummings is known for his deep intellectual interests and eclectic inspirations. He has expressed admiration for historical and strategic figures such as Otto von Bismarck, physicist Richard Feynman, military theorist Sun Tzu, and U.S. fighter pilot and strategist John Boyd.
Dominic Cummings Net Worth 2025
While estimates of Dominic Cummings’ net worth vary, ranging from $5 million to $39.8 million, the most credible figures suggest a net worth between $5 million and $10 million. His wealth is derived from a combination of government salary, consultancy, media ventures, and investments.
FAQs
What is Dominic Cummings doing now?
Dominic Cummings is currently running a technology consultancy firm called Siwah Ltd, which he founded in February 2021. He also writes and shares political commentary through his Substack newsletter.
Why did Dominic Cummings leave Downing Street?
Cummings left Downing Street in November 2020 following a power struggle within Boris Johnson’s inner circle, particularly after a dispute over the blocked promotion of his ally, Lee Cain, reportedly by Johnson’s then-fiancée.
Did Dominic Cummings work on the UK’s COVID-19 response?
Yes, Dominic Cummings was a central figure in the UK government during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. He later criticized the government’s handling of the crisis, claiming major mistakes led to unnecessary deaths.
Was Dominic Cummings paid for his interview with the BBC?
No, Dominic Cummings was not paid for his exclusive interview with the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg.
What was Dominic Cummings’s salary at Downing Street?
During his final year at Downing Street, Cummings received a £40,000 pay rise, bringing his salary to between £140,000 and £144,999.
Has Dominic Cummings published a book?
As of now, Dominic Cummings has not published a book or sold his story to the media. Instead, he shares detailed accounts and analysis through his paid Substack newsletter.