Tuesday, 28th July 2009

Calm down, calm down

James Forsyth 4:14pm

The FT’s excellent Westminster Blog is getting rather excited by a leaked version of the Tory conference agenda which has the session on the economy featuring an ‘appearance by “Hammond and Osborne”. (Or perhaps, it is just entering into the spirit of the silly season) Jim Pickard connects this to the speculation that Osborne might not end up as Chancellor after all. But I suspect that the explanation is actually rather more mundane: Hammond will deliver remarks early in the session before Osborne winds it up with the keynote speech on the economy.

That Osborne will end up as Chancellor, is - to borrow a phrase from Daniel Finkelstein -
“a nailed on certainty” barring some bizarre unforeseen event. However, I do expect that Phillip Hammond will be the most influential Chief Secretary in a long-time. He has a real appetite for the kind of close up, detailed work that will be needed to implement a cuts agenda.

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Jeremy

July 28th, 2009 4:53pm Report this comment

Mind you...when it comes to bizarre and unforseen events, George does have something of a track record...

Do you remember that business about a yacht, an oligarch, the Mediterranian and Peter Mandelson...? I do. That was quite odd.

Whenever the bizarre and the unforseen occur...George has a habit of being there.

Let's hope he doesn't get kidnapped by a kebab, or something...

richard bailey

July 28th, 2009 5:06pm Report this comment

This nailed on certainty rubbish is, well, rubbish.
First, the fact that Osborne is NOT a natural looking or sounding Chancellor has embedded itself in the City and will not have been lost on either Cameron nor Osborne himself.

Second, the first Tory Chancellor does, as Hammond says, have to be one of the most hated ever. He is going to be a one term sacrificial lamb. A bogey man Chancellor replaced by someone kinder when the pain is over!!

Why would Osborne volunteer for that role.

I am sorry but I just bet that Hammond gets the job first, to be replaced by Osborne when the scary bit is over.

Hammond would love that place in history anyway!!

David Ossitt

July 28th, 2009 7:09pm Report this comment

richard bailey.

"Why would Osborne volunteer for that role"

Because he should.

George Laird

July 29th, 2009 3:21pm Report this comment

Dear All

My opinion is that George Osborne is a liability, it comes as no surprise that this Hammond guy would get Chancellor.

I see that as a viable option for Cameron but he needs to leak it and trail it to the public more effective.

Osborne has had his 'hand of God' moment with inheritance tax but that's all he has done.

A lame duck.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

brian kelly

July 29th, 2009 5:45pm Report this comment

I like Hammond a lot. Osborne will be Chancellor and should be. Those 2 together - with Fallon - should be a powerful team. Particularly with Clarke, John Redwood and Howe being influentially involved. If they can a agree a concerted policy I will have my hopes for this country's future restored.