Comments on: Time for Tories to support George Osborne

By: Rose

Rose — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:55:25 +0000

The Conservative Party is in the same position broadly that it was under Disraeli in the 19th century: Gladstone got all the booms and there were more liberal voters than conservatives. Being right wasn't enough: Disraeli had to show electoral intelligence as well, in order finally to procure glorious victory after a string of defeats. The difference was that his party kept him as leader through all those defeats.

By: A. Sedgwick

A. Sedgwick — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:57:40 +0000

GO is totally right to be highlighting Brown's disastrous 11 year tenure with scorched earth and sterling warnings, of course Labour do not like the truth. This view is mixed with what you and most old guard Tories, not David Cameron's Conservatives, have been saying for years that we need to promote less state, less taxation and a fairer society to the industrious bulk of the population. Unfortunately the dynamic duo have been too concerned with trying to be clever by saying little, initially imitating Blair and pursuing peripheral policies.
You should be on the front bench to encourage common sense policies e.g. abolish tax credits and reduce standard rate of taxation, abolish standard rate tax on savings, make council tax income related, abolish the pension annuity requirement, lift VAT exemption threshold for business to £500,000 turnover. There is a huge amount that can be done cheaply by tidying up our tax system by making it fairer, this vision has been sadly lacking for the past 3 years and the Libdems are now making the running in this area and could hold the parliamentary balance if DC and GO do not encourage the Tory core vote.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:13:41 +0000

Dear Rose, I refer you to Man in a Shed's post above; also Trevors Den et al and JR himself. This non-issue should have, would have, long ago died a natural death were it not for the Conservatives picking at a bite.

Just stop picking – and, while you're about it, stop being so facetious.

By: Rose

Rose — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:54:05 +0000

Sorry, Susan, I am too simple to understand what you mean – please explain -

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:24:36 +0000

How refreshing to find another 'simple soul' in Rose. The difference is that you are bought and paid-for – and I am not.

By: Man in a Shed

Man in a Shed — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:12:44 +0000

Rose,

It could also be fighting the last battle, rather than the next.

What was needed was the public to understand our general philosophy and critic of Labour's economic failures – espeically predictions born out.

To be most effective those criticisms need to be made 'before' major events, not afterwards.

Lets be straight – we are now proposing tax cuts as we don't want to be the last party in the UK not to be doing so.

As people become more frightened and disillusioned they will look for those who have been standing firm to their principles to guide them.

That should have been us.

The danger is that the electorate conclude – "they are all the same", which is what playing the games of messrs Drapper, Campbell and Mandelson will communicate.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:15:28 +0000

In a media led democracy there is also the queston of timing to consider when releasing fire power. Though an unattractive thought to simple souls, these base tactical considerations in opposition are fundamental to winning elections. George Osborne understands this as well as Messrs Mandelson, Campbell, and Draper, having learned from defeat and then the wilderness, and they know it. It is vital to their party's survival in office that they get rid of him.

By: Listen Ear

Listen Ear — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:57:18 +0000

The current financial crisis could have been predicted before Nothern Rock was "marked down" by brokers in London. The run on the bank was due to the collapsed share price caused by Brokers and Short-sellers. I watched this happen.

The thing is, Mervyn King, Trieche and Ben Bernanke knew what was about to happen and they continued increasing interest rates. They knew that increasing rates would cause millions more people to lose their homes.. yet they carried on.

When Northern Rock was hit, King should have immediately cut interest rates by at least 1%. Instead, he sat and watched a total train smash of our Banking System, our investments and Pensions. The fact that he has now dropped rates by 2% in the past few weeks has confirmed he was totally wrong.

Mr Orsborne was slagging Labour off making a political point that Labour will try to get King to reduce rates… When a cut in interest rates is what Osborne should have been asking for.

The Tories need to find a more qualified shadow chancellor that offers the solutions to the crisis. Not cheap political slander. As Obama / McCain have shown, petty political posturing does nobody any good.

Please!
Listen Ear!

John, Thank you for providing this forum to convey our concerns to the party.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:00:59 +0000

I do wish all this carping about Osborne would end. I'm a simple soul so, for me, the bottom line is that since Labour are so desperate to get rid of him, we should keep him exactly where he is and let him get on with his job without having to look over his shoulder just in case he's stabbed in the back by his own party. The Mandelson/Campbell/Draper spinners obviously feel threatened by Osborne and they do a pretty good job of abusing him whenever possible; they don't need any help.

By: adam

adam — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:23:59 +0000

The point is, he doesnt hold strong political views. He is climbing the ladder by schmoozing. Whether Rothschild yaughts or Bilderberg conferences.
Camerons Notting Hill set is very third way, very Blairite.
I dont begrudge him that but i wish he was more interested in defending right wing views. His newspaper articles read like something published by the Rowntree foundation.

I have more experience in economics than he does and i wouldnt feel ready to be chancellor. I bet he doesnt.

You could argue why its absurd.