Theresa May’s former policy chief ‘no longer recognises Tories’ amid repeated Cabinet outbursts
4 min read
The ex-head of Theresa May’s policy unit has said he does not recognise the Conservatives as the party he once joined as he blasted senior Cabinet ministers over a string of recent outbursts.
George Freeman said Boris Johnson’s reported “f*** business” comment to an EU envoy and Gavin Williamson’s apparent threat to bring down the Prime Minister unless she pledged £20bn on defence showed the Government was in a state of “chaos”.
The Tory MP said collective responsibility at the top had been missing since David Cameron suspended the rule for the Brexit referendum more than two years ago.
He added that given the country was still battling with debt, bringing down the deficit and slow growth, the Tories risked losing their reputation for financial competence and ushering in a Labour government.
“I don’t recognise the party that I joined in this conversation at the moment,” he told the BBC’s World at One.
“I’m very worried, that’s why I left the Government last autumn. I think if we lose our reputation for economic competence, if we can’t show that we’re managing the public finances properly, if we treat Brexit like an anti-business moment... and if we don’t show that we have a distinctive Conservative approach to support enterprise, hard work, risk, savings and we go down the road of big taxes and spending spree... I fear we will lose and we’ll deserve to.
“If we look like Corbyn-lite, the public will conclude they’re better off voting for the real thing.”
His comments come as Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss prepared to warn Cabinet ministers that demands for more cash for their departments through tax hikes would be a “contradiction of the Brexit vote”.
Mrs May’s pledge last week of an extra £20bn for the NHS over the next four years is said to have inspired other ministers - including Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Home Secretary Sajid Javid - to ask for more cash for their own departments.
'CAT FIGHT'
Mr Freeman added the Government approach to spending would ultimately shape post-Brexit Britain, and argued it was wrong for Cabinet ministers to “put their bids in early” by briefing the press.
He also took aim at Mr Johnson saying “f*** business” when speaking with a senior EU envoy, and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said warnings over Brexit from businesses were "inappropriate".
“This is chaos. If we have ministers winning their bids on the basis of who’s got the biggest headlines, we will lose our reputation for financial competence," Mr Freeman argued.
“The Foreign Secretary’s comments about business, the reported comments by the Defence Secretary, I just don’t think they’re helpful, responsible, statesman-like or what one would expect from senior conservative ministers dealing with finances.”
Asked if he believed the Government was up to the challenge of a new approach, he added: “Not unless we move from the way Brexit’s been handled, which is essentially an alley street cat fight between rival gangs, to a proper process by which the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Chief Secretary and the Cabinet together go through a proper strategic vision for the public finances for the next three years.”
'F*** BUSINESS'
Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary today appeared to confirm he had said “f*** business” in response to the Brexit fears expressed by big employers.
Airbus and BMW last week went public with concerns that the lack of clarity over Brexit could threaten their UK operations and prompt them to begin putting in place contingency plans.
Mr Johnson was said to have issued the crude riposte at a private meeting last week. Asked in the Commons whether he had in fact uttered the obscene jibe, he appeared to double down.
“I don’t think anybody could doubt the passionate support of this government for business,” he said.
“It may be that I have from time to time expressed scepticism about some of the views of those who profess to speak up for business.”
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