Darling speaking at Mansion House

Water

I wonder if Barroso played any part in writing the conclusive part of that speech.

David Lindsay

Well does George Osborne deserve his Bullingdon Club nickname of "Oik", for turning up to the Mansion House in black tie instead of making the point by wearing full fig. Better than Brown's lounge suits, but even so.

That nickname for a mere heir to a baronetcy does say it all about such men of the people as David Cameron and Boris Johnson, both of whom breezed into the Bullingdon, whereas common little Osborne was almost kept out a few years later.

It also says everything about Osborne's razor-sharp intellect that he is the heir to a baronetcy yet voted to abolish fatherhood.

Meanwhile, anyone will now be able to apply to sit on the Monetary Policy Committee. Any volunteers?