Green has swipe at Osborne’s stance as an editor

THERESA May’s closest political friend has attacked George Osborne and compared his editorship of the London Evening Standard to Russian propaganda.

Damian Green, the First Secretary of State who has been friends with the Prime Minister since they were at university, took aim at the former chancellor-turned-editor at the Press Gallery lunch in the Commons.

Mr Green joked how when he was in Manchester for the Tory party conference he “missed” his daily dose of political briefing in the Standard, which he said even blamed the Government for the weather and the days getting darker in winter.

Referring to Vladimir Putin’s propaganda TV channel, he added: “The Evening Standard – Russia Today, with less George Galloway.”

He also poked fun at South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen, who has been a leading Remainer rebel on the Tory benches.

Evidence

He said: “Cross party friendships are much more common than social media would suggest.

“I’ve even seen evidence Heidi Allen will collaborate with other Conservatives.”

But despite taking aim at Remainers he confirmed that he too would prefer Britain to stay in the EU, even though he sits on the Brexit cabinet subcommittee.

He said that if there was another vote he would still support the Remain campaign.

But he added: “There are members of the Government who argued on both sides of the referendum but we are all united in getting the best deal for Britain because that is what a responsible Government should be doing.

“I wished people had voted the other way. However, I think it is the duty of every member of the Government, indeed of every politician, to do their best for their country.

“The best I can do now is to help the Government get a deal for Britain that will increase our prosperity and our security and our standing in the world.”