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Insider Research
Understanding the heart of Westminster
Tuesday 27th October 2009 | 14:44
FT's verdict on Osborne spot on, say insiders
An overwhelming majority of political insiders of all parties agree with the verdict in today's FT editorial that George Osborne needs to become less of a politician and more of a policy maker
Today’s Financial Times editorial began: "George Osborne is a politician to his fingertips: the Conservative shadow chancellor was forged by a professional lifetime within the Tory party spin machine. But, if he wants to be a successful chancellor, Mr Osborne will need to rein in his well-honed instincts on positioning and headline-grabbing in favour of greater focus on policy."
It comes a day after Mr Osborne gave a speech at Canary Wharf advocating a restriction on High Street banks’ bonuses.
An overwhelming 82% of the Phi100 panel agreed with this viewpoint, which included significant majorities across party lines, including 71% of Conservative panellists. Furthermore, half of the panel ‘strong agreed’ with the editorial. Only 7% strongly disagreed.
The Phi100 surveys a broad group of MPs, peers, leading political journalists, think tank leaders and strategists on the day’s political issues, and builds up a picture of collective opinion amongst Westminster insiders.
A media commentator agreed, saying “Yesterday’s speech was a stunt that has backfired.”
A left-aligned think tank leader said, “I strongly agree with the editorial, and when he is in office, he will do it.”
An unlikely defence came from a Liberal Democrat MP, who said: “I disagree, both with their assessment of Osborne and what he should do.”
One of Osborne’s fellow Conservative MPs jumped to his defence, saying “He is a leading Conservative Party politician - the FT is being prissy. And it is possible to be political and thoughtful about policy preparation.”
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It doesn't add up...
How many bankers' bonuses fund a political purpose?
Anna
Now there's a surprise!
Who exactly have you got on your panel these days?
christina speight
Your question was a masterpiece in telling your panel which way to vote! Shame on you!
What few seem to realise is that in the situation Osborne is actually in what he is doing - and it’s all he can do - is exerting pressure on the banks and also exerting pressure on the Chancellor, Alistair Darling. By the time he were in position to do anything circumstances will be completely different!
Osborne talked about other things as well though you’d never guess that from the media headlines!
Andy
The question is simply ridiculous since it doesn't actually ask whether or not he will do it when he reaches office. Is George Osborne a politician to the core? Yes. Will he need to be less of a politician and more of a policymaker as chancellor? Yes. These are difficult questions to answer.
The much more revealing question would be this: "Do you believe that he will be successful in making this adaptation?"
Bardirect
Has the FT declared for Labour again? Look at the shit we're in because of their previous endorsement of Brown! They're as capable of admitting culpability as he is.
John
Well we can see where the FT are coming from
Cole
It's a mystery why Cameron doesn't fire this useless little man.