Government lawyers tried to stop Dominic Cummings being named in employment tribunal case

Dominic Cummings, senior aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, answers questions from the media. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire. - Credit: PA

Dominic Cummings will be named as a respondent in an employment tribunal case made by a former aide to ex-chancellor Sajid Javid – despite attempts by government lawyers to remove him.

Barristers for Sonia Khan – who was fired by the prime minister’s chief adviser last year and escorted out of Downing Street by police officers – are said to have successfully argued that Cummings’ behaviour is pivotal to her case.

The Guardian said government solicitors attempted to argue that his name should be removed and replaced with that of the Cabinet Office in Khan’s claims of sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

At an employment tribunal hearing in central London, the paper said it was ruled that the Cabinet Office could be added as a respondent but that Cummings’ name would also remain.

It is understood to be standard government practice to ask for the employing department to be named as respondent in litigation rather than individual employees.


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A five-day hearing is scheduled for December, at which Cummings is expected to be summoned as a witness.

A government spokeswoman said: ‘We don’t comment on ongoing legal matters.’