Robert Chote is the new head of the OBR

alexsandr

Hmmm
Not sure his institutional big government bias will help the coalition
I have long held the view the IFS has a left wing bias bearing in mind its funding.

But then mebbe Osbourne wants to make him poacher turned gamekeeper???

charles hercock

Good way of choking off criticism from IFS

Say it isn't so

davidk

Budd was damaged goods. Good move. No one likes a yes man.

Simon Stephenson

"Now this should dispel any worries that the Office for Budget Responsibility is partisan in the government's favour. Robert Chote, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and scourge of Osborne's "regressive" Budget, has been appointed as the body's new chief."

It shouldn't dispel these worries quite yet, in my opinion. Two things:-

1. Robert Chote as head of an independent think-tank may well be very different from Robert Chote as head of a government appointed review body. With some people, what they are prepared to say depends upon the effect their words are likely to have. There are many people who would regard it as an obligation in Chote's new position to be very circumspect about revealing any personal discontent with the policy of the people who appointed them.

2. Was Osborne basically forced to appoint Chote? If not, would he really give official status to someone likely to decry him? Isn't the deal with Chote more likely to be a step-up into the corridors of power in return for being somewhat less objective in commenting on government policy?

It'll also be interesting to see the success, or otherwise, of any attempt to fix Chote's replacement at the IFS so that the noises coming from that body are less likely to be uncomplimentary to the government.

Verity

Why is he wearing a grey shirt? I question this man's judgement if he doesn't even know how to present himself.

Percy

@Verity
Looks like a purple shirt to me, still I guess grey suits your miserable outlook on life.

Verity

Percy, A purple shirt under a business suit is even worse. Not even John Prescott wore a purple shirt under a suit.

JohnAnt

Chote is married to a civil servant who is the Director General Law, Rights and International Dept at the Ministry of Justice.
It's not a direct conflict of interest, but it could be.

Tarka the Rotter

When was Mr Chote elected? I seem to have missed the ballot...

michael

from iFi Stats to Obvious Bleedin' Rubbish

With beans in such short supply, the least we can expect is an administration whose counting is factual not fictional.

TrevorsDen

Is the governor of the Bank of England 'elected' - or the master of the rolls?

Mr Stephenson seems to want his cake and eat it.

Chote or whoever still need to justify their pronouncements but we should at least see the end of Brown-like fiddling.

Tarka the Rotter

@Trevors Den

I know there is no reason to elect Chote, or the Master of the Rolls etc - just having a bit of fun and perhaps taking a swipe at all the un-elected people who have power over us. I apologise for being of an unduly democratic nature...

Simon Stephenson

TrevorsDen : 11.06pm

The Office of Budget Responsibility is being promoted as being an independent body put in place to review the accuracy and correctness of the rationale and calculations behind the Treasury's decisions. If independence is really the principal requirement of the review body, then giving this task to a government appointee isn't going to achieve this. If Mr Osborne seriously wants people to believe that he is putting in place an independent review of the Treasury's methodology, he would give access to the Treasury's workings to continuing independent organisations. Mr Chote would still be at the IFS, but with as much access as he needs to do thorough audits and reviews of the Treasury's presentations.

If Mr Osborne wants a general acceptance of the seal of approval given by an independent review body, he must make sure that its independence is not in question. Have you got something to hide, Mr Osborne? If so, don't waste your time trying to kid us that you haven't.

If this is having my cake and eating it, then this is what I am doing.

alexsandr

Simon Stephenson September 10th, 2010 9:52am

Simon. you assume the IFS is independant and unbiased. Go on their website and see where their funding comes from....

Simon Stephenson

alexsandr : 12.14pm

Well if you notice, I'm not just singling out the IFS to be given access to the Treasury data. I suggested that this be given to "continuing independent organisations".

Of course you can have a reductio ad absurdum discussion that challenges whether anyone can be truly independent of someone else - as long as you don't extend this into an either/or fallacy, by seeking to suggest that the degree of dependence is immaterial to the likely quality of the review.

As is the way with all modern politicians, Mr Osborne is trying to make a great deal more out of the OBR, and Chote's appointment, than is justified by the reality of what will actually happen. We're so surrounded by propaganda that if you want your mind to deal in reality you have to take everything you are told with a large pinch of salt. That's all I'm trying to say.