It has become increasingly clear over the course of David Cameron’s leadership that there is a weak link in the the chain - namely George Osborne. Gordon Brown has raised people expectations of a Chancellor. People expect someone serious, intelligent and with gravitas and authority - not a snivelling fop who’s killing time before he inherits his Baronetcy.
People see him as the epitome of Tory Boy, variously guffawing, fawning, whining or squeezing his pimples depending on the occasion and he simply cannot bring to bear any degree of authority when speaking in public.
Put it this way, whenever the Chancellor speaks anywhere, he insists that the podium is 1.3 metres in height and even sends an assistant in advance to measure that height. If Osborne tried to do this, people would tell him to fuck off and play with his X-Box instead.
I’ll agree that Labour’s reshuffle is overdue - but getting rid of Osborne is a matter of urgency for the Tories. Make him Shadow Secretary of State for Cocktail parties instead and maybe he’ll have some credibility with the public. Please vote in my new poll and let me know what you think.
editor[at]recessmonkey.com
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I disagree - having watched Osborne on Question Time I think he is an asset to the Labour Party and should stay as shadow Chancellor as long as possible. He is smug, arrogant and given to micro-perosnal politics (as evidenced by his personal attacks on GB). It is amusing that only a matter of weeks ago Mike Smithson was suggesting that Osborne is one of the cleverest political operators around.
Mike Ion said this on April 22nd, 2006 at 10:37 am
I agree that he needs to go soon. For someone so close to the Cameron camp he appears to have a woefully inadequate understanding of what Cameron’s trying to do the Tories - he does come over as the epitomy of ‘Tory Boy’ and certainly can’t hold his own against GB.
Cassilis said this on April 22nd, 2006 at 2:24 pm
I quite like Osborne but i agree he doesn’t really stack up against Brown. Remember Brown (probably) wont be chancellor at the next election so Osborne might be better than the one Labour wheel out.
presidentmonkeon said this on April 22nd, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Oh please.
At least we Tories are trying to pretty up the front bench unlike the old dour-face you guys put forward on the other side.
Osborne is a vote-winner. I’ve said so many times before. e.g http://oremi.blogspot.com/2005/12/weakest-link.html
When NuLab have a two-time Oscar Winner as Chancellor (wasn’t Forrest Gump the best?) then you can talk.
You’re just jealous ‘cos he’s got the Da-Vinci Code coming out next month, and it’ll do wonders for our ratings!
http://oremi.blogspot.com/2006/04/osborne-hanks.html
Biodun said this on April 22nd, 2006 at 3:14 pm
It’s irrelevant whether Osborne is good at this job ‘cos isn’t he the exact picture of the old Tory stereotype that Cameron is trying to get rid of?
An “Old†Tory link in his “New†Tory Party?
Dr. Freling said this on April 22nd, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Good poll idea Recess, so when can I look forward to the same questions being out to us vis a vis Bliar and Cameroonie?
matt said this on April 23rd, 2006 at 3:47 am
I’ll see if I can come up with some TB/DC questions (ie. which one is more of a toff without a clue as to how ordinary decent folk live) - might be too clise to call.
Recess Monkey said this on April 23rd, 2006 at 10:25 am
And when did Recess Monkey last meet any “ordinary decent folk”?!
Hughes Views said this on April 23rd, 2006 at 3:21 pm
Not since he was last down the pub with me
Red Tamarin said this on April 23rd, 2006 at 6:16 pm
yawn
Jonny said this on April 23rd, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Tony does have a slight clue how ordinary folk live in one respect - he’s having trouble keeping up the mortgage payments too.
Dr Maybe said this on April 24th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Although not because his CSA payments and Child Tax Credits are late again.
BB said this on April 24th, 2006 at 11:07 am
Just to point out that Gordon Brown doesn’t request the podium hight because he’s being precious. It’s more to do with needing the specific hight so he can read his speeches because of his evil eye (the blind one). I remember during the election last year he also had to have his speeches typed in a massive font size - almost fisherprice style!
Eskimo Nell said this on April 24th, 2006 at 11:44 am
What no announcement of A-List candidates today? Maybe later?
Like late May?
Guido Monkey said this on April 24th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Will RM be nominating “weakest links” for each Party?
We could make a start with the Labour candidate for a target seat in Kent, whose brilliance saw the Labour vote share drop by 8% and the Tory majority almost quadruple!
Any other nominations?
Truth Uncovered said this on April 24th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Truth Uncovered - Don’t make me bring your mum into this!
Recess Monkey said this on April 24th, 2006 at 4:04 pm