Iain Duncan Smith claim that Business Secretary Sajid Javid privately backs Brexit 'is simply not true’

'At that time no one knew what the final deal would be. Look what has been achieved in this renegotiation. Now that's being put to the British people'

At the end of 2015 Mr Javid claimed “currently costs outweigh benefits” when it comes to membership of the EU (Reuters)

Sajid Javid’s allies have hit back at Iain Duncan Smith after he claimed the Business Secretary was privately backing Brexit despite publicly supporting the campaign to remain in the European Union.

The personal attack on Mr Javid – from the former Work and Pensions Secretary – came after he appeared on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme to defend the latest Treasury analysis warning of a year-long recession if the country votes to leave.

It is the latest in blue-on-blue attacks which have intensified in recent days as the EU referendum draws closer. On Sunday the Prime Minister questioned the ability of Penny Mourdant, the armed forces minister, after she claimed Britain would not have a veto on Turkey joining the EU.

The pro-Brexit Mr Duncan Smith told the Today programme that he was “deeply disappointed” in Mr Javid as “having privately said how much he wanted the UK to leave the European Union, he is now defending this terrible report”.

Pressed on whether Mr Javid had said to him he wanted out, Mr Duncan Smith replied: "He has." When asked whether that meant Mr Javid was "lying in public", Mr Duncan Smith said: "He has written it in an article."

But a Whitehall source close to Mr Javid denied Mr Duncan Smith's claim, saying: “It is simply not true. Sajid Javid has said no such thing either in private or public".

The attack by Mr Duncan Smith appeared to resonate because of Mr Javid’s previous sentiments on membership of the European Union. At the end of 2015, the Business Secretary claimed “currently costs outweigh benefits” when it comes to membership of the EU.

In 2014, while Culture Secretary during the coalition years, he told the Daily Mail that Britain’s prospects outside the EU “would open opportunities”. He added: “If you said to me: ‘Are you worried or frightened or concerned that the British people might vote to leave?”, that doesn’t frighten me.”

“We should have a referendum on in/out, and if the British people decide Britain is better off outside, I would respect that decision. I think it would open up opportunities. I am not afraid of that at all.”

He then publicly backed staying in the EU in February this year. Just one month later, however, he appeared to provide a lukewarm endorsement of the Remain campaign at the annual British Chambers of Commerce conference.

He said: “I personally have no time for ever closer Union. But I accept the UK does well from being part of a 500 million-strong single-market. I see the benefits of the many trade agreements that have been negotiated by Brussels in the four decades since we joined. And I recognise that it could take many years to replicate that position following a British withdrawal.

“But on this incredibly important issue my mind is made up. I thought with my head for business, for jobs, for growth: remaining in the EU is the best answer.”

Asked today about his previous Eurosceptic views, Mr Javid said: "At that time no one knew what the final deal would be. Look what has been achieved in this renegotiation. Now that's being put to the British people.”

He added: “Since the announcement of the referendum we have far more detail of the impact, such as this report, that is coming out.”