Inside Politics: No 10 denies Boris Johnson said ‘let the bodies pile high’

Downing Street pushes back against latest claim, but prepares for ‘treasure trove’ of Dominic Cummings’ secrets to come out, writes Adam Forrest

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Welcome, in the words of King Lear, to our “great stage of fools”. Events have taken a decidedly Shakespearian turn at Westminster, where Boris Johnson has been compared to the bard’s tragic, demented king. The PM is said to have been driven “half mad” by Dominic Cummings’ betrayal – stomping through the corridors of power in a paranoid frenzy. Over the top? Perhaps. But if one person knows where the bodies are buried, it’s Cummings. Insiders are now whispering about Johnson’s reign coming to an end, should his former ally’s “treasure trove” of secrets prove damaging enough.

Inside the bubble

Policy editor John Stone on what to look out for today: