I wouldn’t count your chickens just yet. This non scandal scandal has opened a space for tabloids to spill all their dossiers info about him into.

His political credibility is seriously damaged in the eyes of the public and the wider effect on the Tories has been to remind people of them pre-97…this will have far reaching effect trust me.

Sorry I seem to have got to the bottom of the post and missed the attack on Mr Osborne’s policies. I have scrolled through a couple of times and can see the opening gambit that the man is smarmy, smug, a privileged toff, doesn’t like the name he was born with and so on but none of the stuff about why what he and his party proposes to do will be bad for the country.
I’m not going to bother, but I am sure we can all list many people from all hues of the political spectrum that fit one or more of those ‘charges’; they may not be pleasant to speak to, have a bit of money from their family, gone to an exclusive educational establishment or even not like using the name on their birth certificate (Anthony Charles Lynton anyone? Oh sorry I said I wasn’t going to bother).
While on a local level I am sure some people in each constituency will make a voting choice because “the other fellow, well, he seems a bit; you know, smarmy” on a national level those that don’t have a tattooed on allegiance need to see what effect each parties policies will have to be swung. After all if we just point out the slightly less pleasant personalities and try and get people not to vote for them, many constituancies will be a zero choice contest and we won’t have many politicians from any party left.

Tony,

*I* missed the bit where I posted this article to Prospect magazine. Last time I checked, this was a blog.

I’m merely stating that I find Osborne to be a smug prick. A rant if you like. It’s a blog thing, y’know?

And, if testimonials are to be believed, he is indeed a bit of a prick.

As for your equivalence of Osborne and Blair – yeah, you’re probably about right. He was a prick too.

After all if we just point out the slightly less pleasant personalities and try and get people not to vote for them, many constituancies will be a zero choice contest and we won’t have many politicians from any party left.

I think you’re getting carried away with yourself.

Also, Tony…

Osborne has, during this horrible little episode, exposed himself as a bit of a shit.

He had a private get-together where Mandleson was in attendance, and then when the opportunity arose later to score a very cheap political point (by telling The Times that Mandy had bitched about GB), he broke his friend’s confidence without a second thought.

If you want to get all serious, this was a breach of trust (he’s untrustworthy), exposed extreme political naivety (he’s lacks judgement and sophistication), and he’s not been honest (he’s a liar).

Did I mention he also bullies junior frontbenchers?

He’s lovely, no?

In reverse order of your two replies Aaron, I am not saying this because I think he is a lovely chap, but that I think the tone should be higher round here, which brings me to the first comment. I didn’t think you had published this in Prospect but on Liberal Conspiracy. The first of the three guiding principles in the mission statement for this site is ‘Have an intelligent conversation about liberal-left ideas and values.’ name calling is neither particularly intelligent or a great idea. It goes against number two as well ‘Campaign for liberal-left policies and causes.’ because it is pretty much going to turn people off if all they think in the tank is petty insults.
But you are a contributor so I’ll take your word for it that this is just another blog, so I look forward to Sunny posting about Waitrose running out of polenta, Unity’s what I did on my holidays and the daily round-up including what free lunch offers are in which papers today.
As for getting carried away, the day they ban hyperbole and invective I’ll be banned from the internet and probably from all conversation as well.

Hilarious to see the Tory party and its total lack of accountability over its fund raising ,and watching them DEMAND accountability from the BBC over the Daily Mail anti BBC Ross/ Brand bandwagon that no right wing Tory would ever miss out on. I mean, shadow chancellor begging for money from Russian Billionaire, fake shell companies that foreign money can be poured into to make it look like British money. But it is the BBC who must apologise……. now.

Did you see that clown Nigel Evans on the BBC news at lunch time? What a pillock. If there is a Daily Mail/ Darce anti BBC wagon rolling poor little Nigel can’t wait to jump a board.

I don’t know, I couldn’t help but warm towards him when I learned that he was called “oik” at Oxford because he’d gone to St Paul’s rather than Eton or Harrow. That sort of thing softens a man’s heart.

Tony

…but that I think the tone should be higher round here, which brings me to the first comment.

I think we need a mix of long-form analysis and pithy/sardonic pieces. Work is ongoing as to how to best present the differing formats.

We want to be a hub for thought and ideas, but also activism.

name calling is neither particularly intelligent or a great idea.

Name-calling? That’s a bit much. I merely commented I think he’s smug in the initial post.

But you are a contributor so I’ll take your word for it that this is just another blog

I’m the acting editor while Sunny’s away.

so I look forward to Sunny posting about Waitrose running out of polenta

It’s a blog. A politics one. Unless a national polenta shortage has wider political significance, I doubt it’ll come up.

and the daily round-up including what free lunch offers are in which papers today.

As the editor of the netcast, I’ll give your suggestion some thought.

A small point, but how old is he actually? The Mail puts him at 22 in 1992 and the Graun puts him at 33 in 2005.

“George was born in London in May 1971.”

http://www.georgeosborne.co.uk/biography.php

“Hilarious to see the Tory party and its total lack of accountability over its fund raising”

Eh? And what did Ecclestone ever do for the Labour party?

“Name-calling? That’s a bit much.”

No, I am a endemic polemicist but your attempt to defend this blog post as not name-calling is… well I’m not sure I can say any more on a respectable blog!

“I’m the acting editor while Sunny’s away.”

Ah, so we can currently put the issues coverage on the site firmly at your door, either the future is the comment censorship and the bullying of the author (Pantomime dames thread) or it is utter UGC frrdom!

Tony,

The post has two paragraphs where I give my own opinion of the man. The rest is news or quotes from a newspaper. I reserve the right to pass comment on the character of elected officials. Even if it seems petty and trivial to some readers. I contribute my own share of long-form analysis too. I deserve the freedom to vent. ;o)

the future is the comment censorship and the bullying of the author

Both Sunny and Unity have been active on that thread. Unless someone feels the need to complain to me, I can’t be everywhere at all times. I’ll have another look at the comments.

I haven’t censored anything on the thread.

Looking through various leftie blogs, it seems as though you’ve all surrendered the domestic political debate. You concentrate on US politics and just spout vitriolic abuse towards the Tories, combined with virtual silence on the corruption and sheer incompetence suroounding the Liebour Govt.

Looking through various leftie blogs, it seems as though you’ve all surrendered the domestic political debate[1]. You concentrate on US politics[2] and just spout vitriolic abuse towards the Tories[3], combined with virtual silence on the corruption and sheer incompetence suroounding[4] the Liebour Govt. ~ chavscum

Where to start…

1. Not so. Try the frontpage posts on tax/economics, law & order, transport, energy, the financial crisis and gay politics. Looks to be me like we’re heavily involved in the “domestic political debate”. You’re argument falls at the first hurdle – our frontpage.

2. Considering it’s the US, and not the UK, that’s having an election next week (and the fact that the US is the pre-eminent nation on the planet), it’s shouldn’t be surprising to see more coverage of American politics here.

3. This is only post attacking a Tory on the frontpage. Indeed, another post names a Labour politician as “idiot of the week”. (pssst! you’re doing very well are you?)

4. We are not [deep breath] a Labour blog. We have independents, libertarians, greens, and Lib Dem writers who also post here. We are extremely critical of this government.

Please, if this is the very best you’re capable of, go and troll somewhere else.

Of course, my points are based on the general themes of most leftie blogs. I am quite amazed that people who smugly believe themselves to liberal and tolerant, so often resort to personal attacks and stereotypical prejudice.

Of course, my points are based on the general themes of most leftie blogs. I am quite amazed that people who smugly believe themselves to liberal and tolerant, so often resort to personal attacks and stereotypical prejudice. ~ chavscum

Fair enough. But surely the most aggressive and partisan blogs – at least here in the UK, which attack the character of leading politicians, are the leading rightwing ones?

I wouldn’t know to be honest, but its not surprising seeing some of the incompetent politicians this Govt produces.

Personally, I think Osbourne comes across as weak and lacks charisma, but if his policies are right, then who cares who is friends are, where he went to school or what he has for dinner?

I think Osbourne comes across as weak and lacks charisma… ~ chavscum

Character is important in a leader of any large government department. I would have thought charisma (important in delivering change) and strength would be especially important traits.

…but if his policies are right ~ chavscum

I’m not sure he has ever proposed and stood by a policy that I agree with. Like Cameron he seems to decide on policy dependent on what the current tabloid mood is.

Indeed, the John Redwood authored and much-hyped Tory economic review (which DC commissioned), proposed greater bank re-regulation, which looks incredibly daft in the current climate. Smart regulation is important if businesses are to trust in each other. A lack of regulation in the credit swaps market, leading to institutions losing confidence in each others liquidity, was a major factor in the financial crisis.

We need leaders not populists.

…then who cares who is friends are… ~ chavscum

That depends on what influence they yeild.

Sorry, but is it me or is there something fundamentally smarmy about Osborne? Seriously, I really can’t stand the guy. I don’t want to come across all class-warrior and all that (I’m really not the type), but there is something about him that really gets under my skin.
I’m not sure he has ever proposed and stood by a policy that I agree with. Like Cameron he seems to decide on policy dependent on what the current tabloid mood is.