Bad advice sinks Boris Johnson over flooding response – The Yorkshire Post says

For, while the ex-Chancellor said the undue influence of Mr Johnson’s aide Dominic Cummings prevents Ministers from speaking truth to power, homes and businesses across Yorkshire – and elsewhere – feel cast adrift by Whitehall’s inertia.

And while Mr Javid made a personal point when he said that “advisers advise, Ministers decide and Ministers decide on their advisers” – reference to the constraints that the PM and Mr Cummings tried to impose in the reshuffle – Mr Johnson is being ill-advised.

He should have responded far more quickly to the damage inflicted by Storms Ciara and Dennis by being seen to take charge of the Government’s response from Whitehall.

He should have heeded Conservative MPs from Yorkshire, like Craig Whittaker and Philip Davies, who have been critical of Whitehall’s pedestrian-like actions.

And he should realise that promises of extra funding offer scant consolation to communities, like the those in the Calder Valley and along the flood-swollen Severn, that have now been flooded on multiple occasions. They’ve heard it all before – and to no avail.

Yet, while Rishi Sunak, the Richmond MP, nodded dutifully when Mr Johnson defended the Government’s record, the new Chancellor should now use the Budget to release more funds to protect flood-hit areas; ensure that it is spent wisely by the Environment Agency and make sure the money actually reaches the most vulnerable areas.

Mr Sunak does not need to wait for Dominic Cummings to tell him what to do if he’s going to be his own man – this is common sense advice that The Yorkshire Post is only too willing to repeat for