Theresa May holds China talks amid speculation minister could quit in bid to topple her

Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband, Philip, during a visit to the Forbidden City in Beijing
Stefan Rousseau/PA
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Theresa May hailed Britain and China as “two outward-looking countries” today as she sought to map out a post-Brexit strategy against a backdrop of leadership rumblings at home.

The Prime Minister held talks in Beijing with Chinese president Xi Jinping at the climax of her three-day visit, which she hopes will pave the way to a trade deal.

After shaking hands with Mr Xi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Mrs May said: “As you say we are both significant players on the world stage of outward- looking countries. As you say, there are areas in which we can work together. There are global challenges which we both face.”

However, Mrs May’s position as premier was in growing doubt back home at Westminster, where it was claimed a minister of state was on the brink of resigning in order to denounce her from the backbenches.

Prime Minister Theresa May meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing today during her visit to China
PA

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who is travelling with Mrs May, gave her full backing and predicted her Tory critics would change their minds if they could see how she was being received by international leaders such as Mr Xi and premier Li Keqiang. Asked whether he believed Mrs May would be leader by the time of the next general election in 2022, Mr Fox said: “I will give full support to the Prime Minister as long as she wants to lead my party.

“I think she is doing an excellent job and I do wish more of my colleagues could see the sort of leadership and commitment and positive agenda that’s been projected for Britain here in China.”

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith urged Conservative ministers to keep their heads after a report in The Sun that an unnamed figure outside Cabinet was getting ready to quit.

“I would be surprised if it was true but I would urge anybody thinking of this to seek internal counselling,” he told the Standard.

According to the report, the minister felt Mrs May’s leadership was “failing” and was a significant figure whose resignation would trigger unrest.

Signs of unrest in the ministerial ranks emerged in the Commons today as Brexit minister Steve Baker revealed he had been informed of allegations that the Treasury was drawing up economic modelling to make the case to stay in the EU customs union. He said he did not believe the claims.

Mr Baker told MPs it was “essentially correct” that he had been told of the claims by Charles Grant, from the Centre of European Research.

He said it would be “extraordinary” if it had happened and an “extraordinary allegation”.

Some senior Tory MPs are convinced the Treasury or the Cabinet Office was behind the leak of confidential Brexit assessments this week.

Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese President Xi Jinping take part in a Tea Ceremony at Mr Jinping's official Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China
PA

Mrs May is being urged from within her own party to do more to build links with Beijing after the “golden era” initiative launched under David Cameron ran into difficulties after No 10 temporarily delayed the go-ahead for an £18 billion nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, Somerset, soon after she became Prime Minister.

Mrs May and Mr Li agreed yesterday on a new trade and investment review seen as a stepping stone to a full free trade agreement after Brexit. She took time out from her round of official meetings to tour the Forbidden City — former home of China’s emperors — with husband Philip.

Mr May enjoyed a cultural programme laid on by their hosts, including a trip to the Great Wall.

Commercial deals worth a total of £9 billion have been signed during the trip, Downing Street said.

They are understood to include £1 billion in financial services agreements, a £750 million deal by energy giant BP and a scheme by a Chinese e-commerce outlet to sell £2 billion of UK goods over the next two years. Mrs May told the Chinese president that the trade side of her visit had been “very successful”.

She added: “The links between us go beyond trade. I’m very pleased with the people-to-people links we have been able to build on in education and in culture too.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in