Alastair Campbell says Osborne lacks credibility among the City
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Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell has lambasted Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne for his “strategic weakness” saying he favours short-term political tactics over long-term economic policy.
In a letter to the Financial Times today, Campbell says Osborne’s weakness is a “shortage of credibility among serious economic opinion”.
He says: “His initiative on curbing bankers’ bonuses, which fell apart on minimal scrutiny, is but the latest to draw fire from City and business leaders. It was attacked not for being tough, but because it was not thought through.”
Campbell suggests Conservative leader David Cameron should relieve Osborne of one of his two roles as Shadow Chancellor and general election campaign co-ordinator. He says in appointing Osborne to these dual roles, Cameron perhaps reveals his own weakness in “failing to differentiate between strategy and tactics”.
The letter ends: “It might be sensible for the Conservative leader to relieve Mr Osborne of one of his two posts. I sense that the City would like it to be the Shadow Chancellorship. The Labour party will be hoping that’s the one he keeps.”
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Readers' comments (1)
Evan Owen | 28 Oct 2009 3:39 pm
Sad to say this but: "Here, Here".
I think they should also tone down their antics in Parliament, they did for a while after it was suggested previously but now they smell blood it is like the programme called 'Life' on the BBC where the poor water buffalo is bitten by poisonous 'dragons' who follow it until it is weak enough for them to kill. It might be nature but it is quite sickening.
I think Mark Hoban needs a proper job too.... perhaps they all do? Their proposals for the financial services sector appear to be more of the same, change just for the sake of it.
I hope we have a hung parliament, or better still a complete overhaul of the political machine. Too much of a majority and the power goes straight to their heads.
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