One of the prime minister’s most senior advisers has been suspended from Downing Street pending an investigation, Sky News understands.
Jason Stein, a special adviser to Liz Truss, is to face a formal probe by the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics unit.
It follows allegations that he was responsible for unauthorised negative briefings against former cabinet ministers.
There had been anger among some Conservative MPs about briefings from Number 10 sources over the weekend.
The Sunday Times reported that a Number 10 source had told them Sajid Javid (1) had not been considered for the chancellor role following Kwasi Kwarteng’s sacking because he is “s**t”.
He previously worked for Ms Truss when she was chief secretary to the Treasury before he became a special advisor to Amber Rudd.
He also worked for Ms Truss during her Tory leadership campaign.
Before joining Downing Street, Jason Stein used to work as a communications adviser to Prince Andrew.
(1) Javid had been scheduled to ask a question at PMQs, and there had been speculation he might raise the briefing. In the end, Javid did not ask a question at all.
IIRC, LT said, in PMQs, all No 10 employees were vetted and approved by the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics unit - it seems that they got one wrong … 
