George Osborne "vetoed" some of the new safeguards imposed on the Hinkley Point nuclear deal, says a former cabinet minister.

Ed Davey, the former energy secretary, told the World at One that "George Osborne was so keen to send positive signals to the Chinese that he was prepared not to go the extra mile for national security".

(Photo: A CGI of proposed Hinkley Point C. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)