Moving on?
Peter Hoskin 6:56pm
So, George Osborne's admitted that he "made a mistake" getting chummy with Oleg Deripaska in Corfu, and the Westminsterati are prepared to draw a line under his involvement in the Yachtgate scandal. The Tories should now grasp this opportunity to completely remove themselves from the story. And - however great the temptation may be - that means not prodding Peter Mandelson over his refusal to disclose more about his meetings with Deripaska.
Two main reasons why: 1) It was Osborne's attempt to rile Mandy that largely got him into this mess in the first place. And 2) If the shadow chancellor is to regain any political capital he may have lost, he needs to demonstrate that he has risen above the tawdriness of the past week and now has his eye firmly fixed on the economic storm we're all facing.
A pity, then, that he gave into a spot of Mandy-bashing (and self-aggrandisement) in his interview earlier; claiming that "other politicians who have been dealing with these people have not been as open as I have". Move on, Mr Osborne. Just move on.
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Chris
October 27th, 2008 9:48pm Report this commentThe BBC was doing its usual lying for Labour a while back: 'Osborne admits "mistake" over donor' on their front page. I've asked them which donor that would be.
Andy Leeds
October 27th, 2008 10:42pm Report this commentWell maybe Osborne and the Tories should move on and leave the story alone now. BUT the press should stick with it. Mandelson has basically lied and there is a good reason why he has done this. We the public are entitled to know what dealings he has or has not had with Oleg Deripaska and also for that matter with Nat Rothschild. The Osborne bit of all this always was a 'none story', but the real story is still there. So keep digging.
john
October 27th, 2008 11:47pm Report this commentStay out of it Tory politicians, but there are murky waters for the msm to explore.
AR
October 28th, 2008 10:01am Report this commentYes, move on to a different position. It might be a decent man and a good strategist, but he is not up to being Chancellor.
Ricardo
October 28th, 2008 11:24am Report this commentPH: "A pity, then, that he gave into a spot of Mandy-bashing (and self-aggrandisement) in his interview earlier; claiming that "other politicians who have been dealing with these people have not been as open as I have".
And there you've got him in one: Proverbs 26.11 'As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.'
patently
October 28th, 2008 11:50am Report this commentNo.
Osborne et al must keep with the story.
Every time anyone points out what Mandelson is up to, a storm of Mandelson-orchestrated media uproar descends upon them, they back off, and Mandelson is re-assured that he can carry on just fine and (err) dandy.
It is time this stopped. Keep the pressure on him; stand up to him. Bullies respond to little else.
JONNY
October 28th, 2008 12:56pm Report this comment'not up to being Chancellor.'
AR - you've never said a truer word.
Did you see Ken Clarke up against McNalty last night? Again in annihilating form.
The one and only man (except perhaps Cable) who can take on Brown on his own selected territory and administer a good thrashing.
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