Tory minister goes to war with ex-No 10 aide over Justine Greening resignation
2 min read
A top Tory minister has lashed out at Theresa May’s former chief aide in a spat over the sacking of Justine Greening.
Frontbencher Jo Johnson told ex-Downing Street chief of staff Nick Timothy he was “so wrong” in his claims about the now ex-education secretary.
Mr Timothy had said Ms Greening was “unpopular with officials, she frustrated reformers, and she exasperated the Prime Minister”.
He added that she “put the brakes on policies that work, like free schools, and devised bureaucratic initiatives of little value”.
But ex-universities minister Mr Johnson took to Twitter to defend his former frontbench colleague.
Mr Timothy quickly shot back at the now-transport minister - arguing his points had not been challenged.
Elsewhere, Mr Timothy said in his Daily Telegraph column that Ms Greening had blocked proposals to cut university tuition fees after the June general election.
But addressing speculation that he was instrumental in her removal, Mr Timothy wrote: “This week, ‘allies’ of Justine Greening claimed I orchestrated her sacking as education secretary.
“This is obviously completely untrue, and I played no part whatsoever in the reshuffle.
“I do, however, agree with Theresa May’s decision: Greening’s replacement by Damian Hinds was the bright point in an otherwise limited set of changes.”
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