Osborne won't sue

catesby

The best thing Osborne could now do is to make a gracious and public apology to Nat Rothschild for breaking the Chatham House rule and gossiping with Danny Finkelstein about what Mandy said about Brown in Corfu.

The BBC would have to report it.

The public will not understand it.

But everyone will agree he has done 'the decent thing' and that it is now time to move on.

Huw Thornton

I see your point, Peter, but they had no choice.

Even if they have a cast iron case, to take the matter to court would only prolong the scandal.

And if they left the matter open, that itself would be a story which could run indefinitely.

bernerlap

Rubbish. Osborne has called Rothschild a liar.
Rothschild should sue him.
Alternatively the deeper into this murky hole we go the more damage it does for Mandy.
Not only was he conniving with a Russian Aluminium billionaire our squeaky clean EU trade commissioner was hobnobbing with Goodwin, whose company is massive user of aluminium.
Mandy's conversion to free trade in aluminium was purely coincidental.

Servant of the Dark Lord

What it shows is that the salad days for the Tories are over. GO thought this was just another piece of fun at shambolic Labour's expense. Instead he found himself up against Peter Mandelson and like many who went before him, he's paid the price for his arrogance.

Chuck Unsworth

It'll encourage that view amongst those who know very little of the devious Mandelson, that's for sure. But some of us can see just a little further than that.

Are you serious?

'Could'? Yeah, it just might possibly *could* . . .

Adam

The Dark Lord has barely returned and he nearly takes out a very senior tory. Osborne will be relieved he is still in his post and will not want to sue and continue giving oxygen to this story.

Sue

Is it still legal and therefore "alright" to "discuss" a subject? I thought that was what freedom of speech was all about. Has something illegal, wrong or against the rules actually been done? Or just that his lordship's toes have been stood and and he's responded with cannons to the broadside?

Methinks he doth protest too much ...

Peter T

Amazing how everything is the fault of the opposition.

Near-miss, we hope, with financial collapse, runs on banks, economy shrinking to something sustainable or probably a fair bit less. But the Government is focussing on the opposition's funding tactics.

From their position of unimpeachable moral superiority, you understand.

Indiscreet of GO to be seen as anywhere near the same social circle as Mandelson, of course.

All vastly amusing were it not that that these people may have power and have important work to do. Wouldn't ask for impeccable pedigree and absolutely spotless record - don't want guileless innocents - but a little more nous would be welcome.

Judith Hamilton Lecan

it appears to me that every column inch you give to the George & Nat "quarrel" serves only to deflect real critical scrutiny from the newly "de-commissioned" yet still superannuated Lord M who one suspects is orchestrating the whole thing and does the Labour party's work for them .

phil

bernerlap
October 22nd, 2008 11:23am
"
Rubbish. Osborne has called Rothschild a liar.
Rothschild should sue him "

Did you hear him ?I think sir he merely stated the facts as he knew them .and if every person sued for tittle tattle from the schoolyard our courts would be even busier than they are .LORD M is a clever fellow and probably very useful in the economic climate we are in but oh boy does muck follow him around !!

bleed ing obvious

In the world of the sound bite Osborne is caught with his pants down. he'll be lucky not to be prosecuted.the phrase boys and men spring to mind. O sborne was naive stupid and deservedly punished for starting it. Those are not qualifications for government

Carl Lawson

The fact is: The Conservative party did NOT receive any rubish money from the Russian.
The Labour party, on the other hand, has its coffins full of money of scandalous origin, "washed" via various kosher entities.

Cogito Ergosum

Osborne could probably prove that he was defamed. The question is what damage has it done to his reputation, if any.

That is why it is best if he does not sue.