Wrong way up ... Theresa runs out of luck on Shanghai visit
tunity to amend the record that has given to Parliament and apologise to Parliament. He will do that.”
The storm erupted after Mr ReesMogg asked Mr Baker to confirm that Mr Grant believed “officials in the Treasury have deliberately developed a model to show that all options other than staying in the customs union were bad, and that officials intended to use this to influence policy”. Mr Baker said it was “essentially correct” that the allegation was being made, and “at the time I considered it implausible.” His response suggested he might no longer find it implausible.
Mr Grant denied making the claims and an audio recording emerged that contradicted the minister’s recollection. No 10 said the minister made a “genuine mistake”. Asked if civil servants were deliberately skewing evidence, Mr Rees-Mogg appeared to take a swipe at Chancellor Philip Hammond, saying: “I think the blame should always lie with ministers actually ... It is the Chancellor who has to take responsibility for his department.” Civil service unions were outraged by the allegations. Cabinet Secretary and civil service chief Sir Jeremy Heywood tweeted: “Proud to address @UK Civil Service analysts yesterday. Every day their great work supports the Government in making evidence-based policy.” IT OUGHT to have been a simple photo opportunity. Theresa May and husband Philip held cutouts of the Chinese character for “luck” visiting Shanghai.
Unfortunately, the beaming couple were holding them upside down, earning a confused stare from onlookers at the Busy Bee education centre, and the young girl they were chatting to.
Earlier, the Prime Minister encouraged business chiefs in China to improve gender equality but faced controversy over claims that she had not pressed human right issues hard enough with the country’s leaders.
In a speech in Shanghai, Mrs May stressed that the UK Government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the All China Women’s Federation, setting out “mutual resolve to improve gender equality”.
She was introduced by business magnate Jack Ma, who founded Alibaba, the giant internet retail platform.
Mrs May praised his record promoting women, and said: “Around the world, young women benefit from seeing role models and trailblazers. Women who have succeeded in their field and shown that progress is possible.”
However, she faced controversy after China’s state-run media said she “sidestepped” human rights issues and praised her for seeking “pragmatic collaboration”.
Downing Street rejected the suggestion that the Prime Minister had not properly raised concerns over Hong Kong and China’s human rights record.