Brexit news: Barnier taunts Johnson over talks as No 10 chaos branded ‘pathetic’ by Starmer

Downing Street was thrown into chaos last night after Boris Johnson’s director of communications quit as a bitter power struggle in the heart of the government spilled out into the open.

Lee Cain, a former tabloid journalist and member of the Vote Leave campaign, announced he would resign from his post in the new year just hours after reports emerged suggesting he would be promoted to chief of staff in No 10.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer branded the reports from Downing Street as “pathetic” and called on the government to focus on tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

It came as the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier mocked the UK’s stance on the so-called “level playing field” for trade in Brexit talks.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, warned failure to reach a Brexit trade deal this year would be “ruinous” for the UK.

Mr Martin said a breakdown in the negotiations would be "very damaging all around", with both Ireland and the UK expected to suffer economically.

• Boris Johnson’s director of communications resigns

• Who is Lee Cain? A closer look at spin doctor who caused No 10 uproar

• UK economy grows by 15.5 per cent but remains below pre-pandemic level