Theresa May infamously told police officers they were “crying wolf” and “scaremongering” when she was warned police cuts were putting national security at risk.

Now it has emerged that her most senior advisor, Nick Timothy, accused an officer of 27 years experience of being “hysterical” and “shroud waving” over budget cuts which have seen forces lose 20,000 officers under the Tories.

The Prime Minister’s joint chief of staff made the comment after picking a fight on Twitter with the chair of the Police Federation, Steve White.

White posted a message about the ignorance of newspaper columnists about policing:

Frankly fed up with press column writers espousing their views on policing. Just what the hell do they know about policing? What exactly? — Steve White (@PFEW_Chair) November 7, 2015

To which Timothy replied:

Hysterical @PFEW_Chair response to criticism of hysterical shroud waving: https://t.co/5W3SbETXPO — Nick Timothy (@NickJTimothy) November 7, 2015

The debate between the pair continued and ended with Timothy telling White, essentially, to just make the best of the budget cuts…

@NickJTimothy after 27 years I know a bit about it. Also working to ensure it adapts and changes but survives. You? — Steve White (@PFEW_Chair) November 7, 2015

@PFEW_Chair in 2004 the Fed said Labour were about to “destroy policing in this country forever.” Do you think that happened? — Nick Timothy (@NickJTimothy) November 7, 2015

@NickJTimothy I was a sergeant working 24/7 in deprived south Bristol then. This is my view 2015 https://t.co/ioLfHJ6Tvq — Steve White (@PFEW_Chair) November 7, 2015

@PFEW_Chair (1/2) the problem is that the shroud waving is counter-productive. It’s been done before and nobody believes it. You’d be… — Nick Timothy (@NickJTimothy) November 7, 2015

@PFEW_Chair (2/2) better off working constructively to reduce demands on policing by getting the NHS to deal with mental health better, etc. — Nick Timothy (@NickJTimothy) November 7, 2015

Timothy comments in November 2015 came after his boss was heavily criticised by White over 20% cuts at the Police Federation conference earlier that year.

In his conference speech, White warned: “You know full well, the first duty of government is the protection of its citizens. Well, government is failing to do that.”

Does Timothy still think that’s “shroud waving”?