Dominic Cummings has sensationally come out to back Reform UK, in the latest boost for Nigel Farage’s insurgent party.

Asked by one X user this morning who he is backing at the next general election, Mr Cummings bluntly replied: “Dunno yet but obviously everyone should vote Reform this spring.”

He added: “No downsides, just upsides.”

It’s the latest defection to Reform UK, following a number of former MPs, donors and advisors over the past few months.

Reacting, Nigel Farage delighted in Mr Cummings’ change of heart, telling the Express: “The architect of the 2019 Conservative landslide now recognises that the Tory brand is dead and Reform is the only alternative to a terrible Labour Government.”

Reacting to the news, Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice told the Express: “Mr Cummings is among so many now recognising that Reform UK is the only party who can save Britain.”

Dominic Cummings served at the heart of Downing Street under Boris Johnson, before departing after a spectacular falling out with the PM in 2021.

He then embarked on a campaign to remove him from power, leaking stories about Partygate to the media.

His endorsement of Reform UK, at least at this year’s local elections, is a big change of heart towards Nigel Farage by the former Vote Leave chief.

During the Brexit referendum, Mr Cummings was intent on refusing to work with the then-UKIP leader, claiming his political brand was a turn off for many potential Brexit voters.

While Mr Cummings has floated starting a new party of his own, a week ago he called on Donald Trump to help bring about a merger of the Tories and Reform UK.

In a post to his Substack blog, Mr Cummings said Britain needs a group to “break the coalition supporting Starmer” and deliver “regime change”.

“What to do? Summary: shove out Kemi ASAP, take over Tories, get Trump/Elon to facilitate a merger with Reform, tip in a Third Force of elite talent and mass energy so voters see an essentially new political force whose essence is a decisive break with 1992-2024… break the coalition supporting Starmer, take over No 10, do regime change.”

Nigel Farage’s party is hoping for big gains on May 1 this year, despite the fact many council elections in Reform target areas have been cancelled due to a local government reorganisation.

Reform UK currently has 72 councillors, with another Tory defection taking place in Cornwall this week.

Speaking to the Express at a press conference earlier this month, Mr Farage said his working target for the local elections is 175 gains, though this would have been higher had elections in places like Essex and Norfolk not been scrapped.

The party will formally launch its local campaign at a huge rally in Birmingham next month, with hundreds set to turn up.

Mr Farage has raged at Angela Rayner following her confirmation that millions will no longer get a vote this may.

He said he was “blooming angry” at the “completely outrageous” decision at an emergency press conference.

However, he teased that voters still getting to elect councillors in May are in for a “big surprise” when Reform sets out its local elections manifesto in the coming weeks.

Mr Farage revealed to the Daily Express that Reform has been quietly submitting thousands of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that will reveal scandalous levels of waste by current councils.

He later suggested one revelation would be the levels of social housing currently being given to people not born in Britain.