George Osborne is making the going
James Forsyth 3:39pm
There are several interesting columns on George Osborne in the papers today. In The Times, Tony Blair’s former speechwriter Phil Collins warns Labour to stop underestimating the
Chancellor, who is defining the political battle on his terms at the moment. Peter Oborne, by contrast, is highly critical of Osborne in his Telegraph column, warning that Osborne’s
partisan presentation of the cuts risks undermining support for the whole project.
For once, I find myself disagreeing with Peter. I think Osborne is doing some of the political heavy-lifting that Cameron could not do without undermining his standing as a national leader; Osborne’s praise for the 2004 Republican campaign is instructive in trying to understand what is going on here.
Where I agree with Peter is that Cameron and Osborne are not the peas in a pod they are so often assumed to be. They have an exceptionally close relationship but they come at their politics from
slightly, but significantly, different places. How they handle these differences over the next few years is going to
be crucial. After all, as Osborne reminded us in his speech on Wednesday, ‘to govern is to choose.’
Previous
General Zod
October 22nd, 2010 3:47pm Report this commentOborne's first couple of telegraph coumns have been ridiculous. He's got himself into a puffed-up angry state about Osborne's cuts and in the process ended up looking an angry old buffoon (which is precisely what his new profile picture looks like).
DavidDP
October 22nd, 2010 3:55pm Report this commentOborne's points may have had more weight had he not described the Shadow Chancellor's comedy turn as what was called for on such an occasion.
les
October 22nd, 2010 4:03pm Report this commentWhat is Oborne's problem - it seemed to start just before he left the Mail, but now he is looking! and sounding more and more ridiculous', shades of Heffer?
I have never thought Osborne and Cameron were peas in a pod, Cameron hates to be unpopular, Osborne doesn't give a toss!
Hugo Chav
October 22nd, 2010 4:06pm Report this commentPeter Oborne has gone bonkers, he is now an out and out "basher". The Telegraph will probably have to fire him if he keeps writing such drivel. He's lost the plot, is he having a mid life crisis?
Tron
October 22nd, 2010 4:16pm Report this commentPeter Oborne was praising Gordon Brown for the first year as PM. Said how well he handled the 10p Tax issue. How honest and straight he was after Phoney Tony.
He stirs it up for Cameron every week. He didn't write about Gordon's considered reply to the Tories attempt to clear up his mess.
Dimoto
October 22nd, 2010 4:32pm Report this commentThe "peas in the pod", are Oborne, Heffer and Hitchens (we can probably add Verity to that list), obsessed, unbalanced, irrelevent.
The trouble might start in a second term, when Osborne wishes to keep a tight ship, reducing the debt and lowering taxes, whilst Cameron prefers to spray some largesse in the direction of the greenies and the less well off.
strapworld
October 22nd, 2010 4:50pm Report this commentCouldn't agree with General Zod more. When he was writing for the Mail. Oborne would be critical of Brown/Blair/Cameron whoever one week then praise them to the sky the next week.
You westminster bubble lot call Oborne brilliant. I think he is a writer who always edges his bets. Today's nonsense says in the early paragraphs "The chancellor and the Prime Minister, we have repeatedly been told, have formed an unbreakable partnership which is so close that in effect they speak with one voice"
WHO told us that line? OBORNE DID in an article in The Mail. Goodness me the man must think we are all idiots.
You wait. Next week Osborne will be the greatest Chancellor Oborne has ever written about and Cameron will have fallen out with Clegg.
Only a juvenile can believe what Oborne writes these days!
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Bloody Bill Brock
October 22nd, 2010 4:57pm Report this commentLooks like we all agree, Oborne is writing drivel.
Chris
October 22nd, 2010 4:58pm Report this commentOborne is circumcised from the neck up. (Which description is the last thing John Le Carre wrote that was worth reading.)
michaelmph
October 22nd, 2010 5:15pm Report this comment+1. Oborne is now writing such drivel. I used to quite like his column in the Mail each Saturday, but his first two columns in the Daily Tel are very poor, as though he's trying much too hard to be controversial. Very lightweight stuff.
BigAl
October 22nd, 2010 5:20pm Report this commentLabour are now the nasty party. No policies, no integrity just personal attacks and lies to scare the electorate. Let us hope we never have to put up with another dishonest Labour government.
lescam
October 22nd, 2010 6:01pm Report this commentfrom today's Oborne column;
"There are two ways of selling spending cuts. One is the sneering, smirking and partisan way favoured by Osborne on Wednesday. "
This is complete rubbish. There was nothing in Osborne's manner to suggest either sneering or smirking. Totally unfair, and Peter Oborne just makes himself look a fool.
TGF UKIP
October 22nd, 2010 6:22pm Report this commentStill can't bring themselves to speak in any language other than that of the metropolitan progressive nor advance any argument other than in the same vein.
Over at order-order.com, incidentally, Guido reveals the Heir using "national security" for his own private ends exactly like The Original, and Guido also has Dave's OE mate Wiggins bang to rights falsifying his expense claims. Only soldiers and conservatives, though, get sacked in The Heir's world.
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