Comments on: Which of these two characters would you most trust with the economy? http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/01/14/which-of-these-two-characters-would-you-most-trust-with-the-economy/ crass, boorish and more a bruiser than blogger Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:19:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Alex http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/01/14/which-of-these-two-characters-would-you-most-trust-with-the-economy/#comment-150590 Alex Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:27:38 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/01/14/which-of-these-two-characters-would-you-most-trust-with-the-economy/#comment-150590 Let's not forget Osborne's wallet problem; £487,000 in lovely donations. Mmm! Possible lines to take apart from NR; Coming property crunch - what is Darling doing to cope with a major wave of repossessions and toxic MBS? Loss of grip on the public finances; going into downturn with a whacking great budget deficit - compare Germany which just announced a sizable surplus. Let’s not forget Osborne’s wallet problem; £487,000 in lovely donations. Mmm!

Possible lines to take apart from NR; Coming property crunch - what is Darling doing to cope with a major wave of repossessions and toxic MBS? Loss of grip on the public finances; going into downturn with a whacking great budget deficit - compare Germany which just announced a sizable surplus.

]]> By: James Graham http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/01/14/which-of-these-two-characters-would-you-most-trust-with-the-economy/#comment-150398 James Graham Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:23:24 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/01/14/which-of-these-two-characters-would-you-most-trust-with-the-economy/#comment-150398 On your last point Antony, maybe not, but Osborne and Cable are Shadow Chancellors not Chancellors, which has a very different job description. But my beef isn't just with Osborne's CV, it is with his actions, which aside from demonstrating a base level of populism don't exude a command of his brief. Cable's success at the end of 2007, more than anyone else, was Osborne's failure. Osborne should have had a clear run on Northern Rock; instead he ceded control of the issue to his Lib Dem opponent. On your last point Antony, maybe not, but Osborne and Cable are Shadow Chancellors not Chancellors, which has a very different job description.

But my beef isn’t just with Osborne’s CV, it is with his actions, which aside from demonstrating a base level of populism don’t exude a command of his brief.

Cable’s success at the end of 2007, more than anyone else, was Osborne’s failure. Osborne should have had a clear run on Northern Rock; instead he ceded control of the issue to his Lib Dem opponent.

]]> By: Antony Hook http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/01/14/which-of-these-two-characters-would-you-most-trust-with-the-economy/#comment-150280 Antony Hook Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:09:41 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/01/14/which-of-these-two-characters-would-you-most-trust-with-the-economy/#comment-150280 One of the best points made at the Setting the Agenda mini-conference on Saturday was that Lib Dems should concentrate more on the economy. This is an area where: a. the government are increasingly weak, b. we have highly credible economic spokespeople, c. it will always be important to the electorate, d. it will be for us what the environment is for the Tories (i.e. something the party is not usually remembered for concentrating on, which makes it more interesting). On your contrast of Osborne and Cable, though, historically the best Chancellors have not been does with professional economic expertise. One of the best points made at the Setting the Agenda mini-conference on Saturday was that Lib Dems should concentrate more on the economy. This is an area where:

a. the government are increasingly weak,
b. we have highly credible economic spokespeople,
c. it will always be important to the electorate,
d. it will be for us what the environment is for the Tories (i.e. something the party is not usually remembered for concentrating on, which makes it more interesting).

On your contrast of Osborne and Cable, though, historically the best Chancellors have not been does with professional economic expertise.

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