George Osborne defends David Cameron over biography's pig claims

Defence: George Osborne defended the Prime Minister over the controversial new Ashcroft biography during his visit to Shanghai
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Joe Muphy22 September 2015
WEST END FINAL

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George Osborne rallied behind David Cameron today in the wake of the extraordinary “pig-gate” allegations of Oxford debauchery — and declared that Britain was “walking tall” under his close ally’s premiership.

As new criticism poured from the pen of Lord Ashcroft, the Chancellor said that he would not “dignify” the book by responding.

Today’s latest instalment of the Ashcroft biography involved political controversy rather than yesterday’s high-octane claims that Mr Cameron used drugs at Oxford and once inserted “a private part of his anatomy” into a dead pig’s head.

Mr Osborne looked embarrassed when first confronted with a question about the book during a trip to China yesterday, but this morning he came out fighting during a BBC radio interview.

“I think the British people had their verdict on David Cameron’s premiership just a couple of months ago at the general election and they re-elected him because he is a strong leader who has led this country out of economic turmoil to economic success,” he said.

“Britain is walking tall on the world stage again and I’m frankly not going to dignify that book with a more detailed response.”

I think the British people had their verdict on David Cameron’s premiership just a couple of months ago at the general election

&#13; <p>George Osborne</p>&#13;

Today’s instalments from the book, co-written by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, say Mr Cameron was rebuked by then defence chief General Sir David [now Lord] Richards, who told him “being in the Combined Cadet Force at Eton” did not qualify him to run complex military operations.

It also revealed the first picture of Mr Cameron taking part in a hunt and said his brother went on holiday with media boss Rebekah Brooks.

David Cameron at No 10, and on the cover of Lord Ashcroft's new book

Mr Osborne was confronted after a speech in Shanghai this morning by Chinese audience members criticising the difficulties of obtaining visas to visit and study in Britain. He responded: “I’m determined to make sure more Chinese people can get visas to study and travel in the UK. I want you studying and I want you as Chinese tourists in the UK.”

He added: “Visa applications are up 11 per cent year on year, but I want that growth to be even faster.”

Mr Osborne acknowledged that Britain’s democratic government “of course... disagreed on issues” with the one-party Chinese state, but added: “Let’s conduct our discussion on the basis of mutual respect.” In a speech to financiers he called for Britain and China to be “partners in growth” and sign up to closer commercial and financial links. “I believe our two countries are perfectly positioned to be partners in growth,” he said. “Britain can be China’s best partner in the West.”

A new direct link between the London and Shanghai stock exchanges, allowing UK firms to raise funds from Chinese savers and Chinese companies to invest in Britain, was the centrepiece of his five-day tour.

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