Tory minister blasted for failing to shoot down 'conspiracy theory' about civil servants trying to sabotage Hard Brexit

A Tory minister faces fury after he failed to challenge a "conspiracy theory" that civil servants are trying to sabotage Hard Brexit. Brexit minister Steve Baker said it was an "extraordinary allegation" that Treasury officials - who are meant to be impartial - have been promoting staying in the customs union in order to influence policy. Speaking in the House of Commons, told MPs the theory was "implausible" but did not say it was untrue - making his boss, Brexit Secretary David Davis, visibly wince. That's despite the man accused of making the claim, Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform, categorically denying he ever did so.

Mr Grant told Business Insider: "I did not say or imply that the Treasury had deliberately developed a model to show that all non-customs union options were bad, with the intention to influence policy."

Tory MP Antoinette Sandbach added she was at the event where Mr Grant supposedly made the comments - and "at NO point did I hear any suggestion of civil servants deliberately manipulating data modelling."

The exchange came after Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the hardline European Research Group of Brexiteer Tories, raised the allegation in the House of Commons.

He asked Mr Baker to confirm if he heard from Charles Grant, of the Centre for European Reform, that "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".

Steve Baker replied it was "essentially correct" that he had heard the "extraordinary allegations".

He said: "[Mr Rees-Mogg's] account is essentially correct.