Lib Dem MP ‘despairs’ over party’s plan to scrap Treasury and replace it with Birmingham-based ‘growth department’

The Liberal Democrats’ plan to scrap the Treasury and replace it with a “Department for Growth” based in Birmingham has already been criticised by its own MPs, with one saying they “despair” over the policy.

In a speech on Wednesday morning, Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper attacked the Treasury as “anti-growth” and proposed a radical shake-up of the British state.