Downing Street backs civil servant over bankers meeting

DOWNING Street has defended the government’s most senior civil servant over comments at a private meeting with bankers in which he reportedly discussed differences in emphasis between senior ministers on economic policy.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood allegedly said there was a “diversity of views” at the top of the Cabinet, with Prime Minister David Cameron prioritising exports and free trade, Chancellor George Osborne concentrating on infrastructure investment and inward investment, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg focusing on regional growth and Business Secretary Vince Cable blaming the difficulty of access to finance for holding back small businesses.

Mr Cameron’s official spokesman said the government continued to pursue its central economic approach of reducing the deficit while reforming Britain’s economy.

He said he was “puzzled” by suggestions Sir Jeremy’s reported comments contradicted this approach and said it would be “rather odd” if senior civil servants were to be criticised for engaging with representatives of major industrial sectors.

The spokesman said: “There is a single central economic approach, which is very familiar to you, around dealing with the deficit and debt whilst reforming the economy so Britain can compete in the global race. Within that, you would expect the government to be doing a whole range of things.

“Should we be seeking to increase trade with the likes of China and India? Yes. Are we looking at all the ways we can increase small and medium-sized enterprise financing availability? Yes. Do we set out long-term investment in infrastructure? Yes. Do we support the rebalancing of the UK economy, including regionally? Yes.

“We do all of those things as part of the government’s economic approach. I think the only surprise would be if we weren’t doing all of those things.”