Nadine Dorries attacks Osborne over junior minister's Newsnight appearance

Economic Secretary Chloe Smith faced a difficult round of interviews as she attempted to explain the decision to scrap a planned fuel duty increase on BBC's Newsnight.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has blamed the Chancellor George Osborne for what is being regarded as a very poor performance by the junior minister.

Asked whether Ms Dorries would be disciplined for her attack on Mr Osborne, a source close to the Prime Minister said: "Nadine is Nadine, isn't she? What can you do?"

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Fuel duty increase cancelled

The Chancellor has scrapped August's planned 3p rise in fuel duty and frozen the tax for the rest of this year. The £550m cost of the change will be paid for by departmental savings across Whitehall.