‘Let history decide’: Downing Street coy on claim cabinet is most ill-disciplined ever

Downing Street has refused to slap down a leading member of the government who claimed Theresa May’s top team are “the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history.”

Chief Whip Julian Smith made the remarks in an interview with the BBC, set to be broadcast on Monday evening, as he hit out at attempts to “destabilise” May’s premiership.

Smith also claimed the result of the 2017 General Election – which saw the Conservatives lose its parliamentary majority – should have alerted colleagues to the fact a softer Brexit was on its way.

Asked about Smith’s comments on the lack of discipline, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “The PM has said on any number of occasions that this is a subject that brings out strong emotions in MPs on all sides of the debate. I think that what’s important is everybody in government continues to work towards the goal of delivering on the referendum verdict.”

When pressed, he added: “I haven’t discussed it with her. I’ll leave it to historians to make their judgements on history.”

The official spokesperson defended the suggestion that May had been trying to reunite the country after the divisive 2016 EU referendum.

“The PM made it clear that there was a need to bring the country back together after the Brexit vote and that is what they (the government) are working to achieve,” he said.