Former May aide Nick Timothy branded ‘tone-deaf Rasputin’ over Cabinet axe for Justine Greening

Cabinet axe: Justine Greening
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Theresa May’s former chief of staff was today branded a “politically tone deaf policy Rasputin” after accusing Justine Greening of blocking university reforms before she was sacked as Education Secretary.

Nick Timothy, who left No 10 after the bungled snap election last year, claimed Ms Greening “exasperated” the PM. He welcomed her replacement in the reshuffle by Damian Hinds, now tipped as a contender for Tory leader.

In the Daily Telegraph, Mr Timothy wrote: “Greening was unpopular with officials, she frustrated reformers, and she exasperated the Prime Minister.

“Charged with making Britain ‘the world’s great meritocracy’, she put the brakes on policies that work, like free schools, and devised bureaucratic initiatives of little value.”

Ms Greening did not dissent in public from Mrs May’s proposals to allow new grammars and increase sponsorship of state schools by universities, private schools and the Catholic church, but Mr Timothy claimed she “stalled as far as she could”. He alleged: “Greening blocked proposals to reduce tuition fees and refused to hold a proper review of tertiary education.”

But his attack on the Putney MP drew a ferocious response from one of her friends who described him as a “politically tone deaf policy Rasputin”, adding: “Same idiot giving advice and same idiot results. He’s already done incalculable damage to Tory party and seems intent to continue.”

The ally stressed: “The more important question being asked by Tory MPs already angry post the reshuffle is if Nick Timothy was banished by party in June after catastrophic and disastrous election as condition for PM staying, how would he possibly know at all what was happening in autumn after ... unless he is still talking to someone and still pulling the strings in No 10?”

Ms Greening is understood to have put forward alternative proposals to calm the universities tuition fees row.

Mr Timothy denied allegations that he had orchestrated her dismissal.

He said: “It’s categorically untrue that I had anything to do with the reshuffle or that I’m in any way influencing things inside Government.”

His criticisms of Ms Greening were rejected by former universities minister Jo Johnson, who worked under her from 2016 until the reshuffle.

Mr Johnson, now a transport minister and Minister for London, tweeted: “So wrong, this stuff re Justine Greening — she supported me in every single reform we undertook of our universities, was a terrific colleague and faultlessly loyal.”

It came as Michael Gove continued to fuel speculation about the next Tory leadership battle by praising two Cabinet members. After a Times article in which he tipped Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Education Secretary Mr Hinds as future leaders, he backed them in a series of radio interviews to contest the top job.

A No10 source said: “Nick Timothy left Downing Street more than seven months ago and doesn’t speak for the PM or the Government.

“The PM is grateful for the excellent work Justine Greening did as Secretary of State for Education, including her work on the review of student finance, further steps on which will be announced shortly.”

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