Friday, August 03, 2012
Defying political gravity
The Telegraph carries an intriguing response by the Prime Minister to polls that show his Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne to be marginally more popular than bubonic plague.
Rather than consider finding a new tenant for No. 11 Downing Street, David Cameron has instead asserted that George Osborne will remain as the man in charge of the UK's economy until the general election which is due to take place in 2015.
The paper says that Osborne has been heavily criticised since the budget, after being forced into a series of about-turns and amid accusations of poor presentation from the Treasury:
But asked if he would remain at the Treasury until the general election, Mr Cameron told Sky News: "George Osborne is doing an excellent job in very difficult circumstances and he has my full support in doing that. He is not going anywhere."
Repeatedly pressed to say if this meant Mr Osborne would still be Chancellor at the general election, he said: "Yes."
This sort of public assurance is very brave. The Prime Minister has left himself no room for manoeuvre at all. Whether he will be able to deliver on this promise has yet to be seen.
Rather than consider finding a new tenant for No. 11 Downing Street, David Cameron has instead asserted that George Osborne will remain as the man in charge of the UK's economy until the general election which is due to take place in 2015.
The paper says that Osborne has been heavily criticised since the budget, after being forced into a series of about-turns and amid accusations of poor presentation from the Treasury:
But asked if he would remain at the Treasury until the general election, Mr Cameron told Sky News: "George Osborne is doing an excellent job in very difficult circumstances and he has my full support in doing that. He is not going anywhere."
Repeatedly pressed to say if this meant Mr Osborne would still be Chancellor at the general election, he said: "Yes."
This sort of public assurance is very brave. The Prime Minister has left himself no room for manoeuvre at all. Whether he will be able to deliver on this promise has yet to be seen.
