For true blues worried that climate-deal-Cameron was a little wet for their normal tastes, there isn’t much hope for some of those coming up the greasy-pole it seems. Wet Conservative Future chairman Ben Howlett has raised eyebrows by making the most of the “EU-China Year of Youth.” Not quite as bad as the time he praised Gerry Adams, but part of an emerging pattern.

Invited to the Chinese Embassy on Friday, did this wannabee MP ask awkward questions about China’s record on human rights? Or criticise how they deal with dissent? Or more topically, did he raise the issue of the artist Ai Wei Wei being detained? Even the Tory-boys’ hero Boris writes this morning “just because China is a superpower doesn’t mean we should be afraid of criticising it.” Was that not Party line enough?

No, none of that was raised. Instead they had a “topical debate on resolving climate change.” When questioned about his priorities by Guido, Ben said the Prime Minister talks to China about trade. Hate to break it to you Ben, but you’re not the PM.  At least Cameron has the balls to speak out on China’s appalling human right’s record as part of a twin-track approach to dealing with that nation.