The Cummings Revolution – help or hindrance?

Ed Amory | Issue 2 | Magazine, Politics

From the Archive

Ed Amory

I’ve experienced the world of government communications from multiple different angles over my career. As a staffer in Conservative Central Office, I worked alongside department comms teams. As a journalist on the Mail for 12 years, I spent hours trying to extract information from unenthusiastic press officers. Then over the last eight years as a communications consultant, I had central government departments as clients. So I was fascinated to read about Dominic Cummings’ reported plan to streamline government communications teams, with the apparent intention of cutting the numbers in any one department to an average of 30. Given that some currently have around 300 people working in marketing and communications, this would be a significant contraction as well as a further shift of power towards the centre, mirroring the process that has already taken place with special advisers. With some of my former hats on, I have sympathy with those who want reform. When I was a journalist, many of...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



UK Budget 2026: Energy Bill Relief, North Sea Oil and Gas, and the Cost of Britain’s Green Transition

Anna Bryzhko | October 29, 2026

The government has promised to ease energy bills while investing in Britain's energy future. But can it support North Sea production, expand clean power and meet climate commitments

Found the Budget boring? Burnham may be thinking of an early election

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 28, 2026

After weeks of anticipation, Healey’s maiden budget looks to designed to re-assure the markets that Labour are fiscally responsible.

Is Britain’s welfare Bill out of control?

Ella Beadman | October 27, 2026

Ahead of the hotly anticipated Budget on Wednesday, Ella Beadman analyses what it could mean for welfare spending

What Can Britain Expect for Defence Spending in the Autumn Budget?

Anna Bryzhko | October 22, 2026

The government has pledged billions more for Britain's military. But can it finance those promises without squeezing other public services?

Healey’s first Budget: Economic pressures and potential tax rises

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 21, 2026

With just a week until the first Budget of the Burnham government is released, Mace analyses what the Chancellor’s biggest challenges are and what taxes might be brought

Labour Wins in Holborn and St Pancras, but the Greens Remain a Political Challenge

Anna Bryzhko | October 13, 2026

Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali secured 12,292 votes, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who received 8,928

By-election day: Is it now or never for Zack Polanski? 

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 8, 2026

The day of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election has arrived; Mace investigates where public opinion is and what this means for the future of the Green Party

The Mace Questionnaire: MP Layla Moran

Mace | October 7, 2026

"Education is why I came into politics, and it is hardly talked about"

Diary: Tory Conference 2026

William Cash | October 6, 2026

Greetings from Birmingham and the Conservative Party Conference, with Editor William Cash.

Labour Party Conference: No fireworks from Healey, and no market shock either 

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | September 29, 2026

Healey’s affirmative line “There is nothing progressive about losing control” did little to stir ‘hype’ amongst conference attendees nor City bankers, but he is right to say it