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Category: Osborne

How George Osborne is hoping to raid pension pots without you noticing

How George Osborne is hoping to raid pension pots without you noticing

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Alastair Meeks, former chair of the Association of Pension Lawyers, looks at George Osborne’s plans for pensions. When I qualified as a pension lawyer, my first boss used to say: “Alastair, when people hear the word ‘pension’, they think ‘old’, they think ‘grey’, they think ‘boring’.  But if every time you hear the word ‘pension’ you replace it with the word ‘money’, suddenly it seems so much more exciting.”  Today I’m going to talk to you about money. We have now…

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So what happened to the long-term plan, George?

So what happened to the long-term plan, George?

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Labour’s current travails have hidden the Chancellor’s own problems George Osborne is fond of saying that he’s fixing the roof while the sun is shining. Well, this week he decided to knock off early and catch some rays. After all, what’s the rush? It’s not going to rain overnight. Mañana. Nor will it rain economically tomorrow, next week, next month and in all probability, next year. The economy is growing healthily, employment and wages are rising, inflation remains subdued, consumer…

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George Osborne’s first PMQs is a reminder of how strong his leadership chances are

George Osborne’s first PMQs is a reminder of how strong his leadership chances are

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Knowing the date of the PM’s departure could be the key It’s a big day for George Osborne. Cameron is away so, as the First Secretary of State in the new Conservative Government, he will be taking PMQs for the very first time – a very clear statement of his position in the pecking order. Looking back he has a lot in common with James Callaghan in 1976. It was widely agreed that in the LAB contest of that year…

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Another PB betting tip comes good

Another PB betting tip comes good

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On behalf of punters who took the Ladbrokes 3/1 that Osbo would be called Jeffrey in the Commons I thank LAB's Anas Sarwar — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) June 25, 2013 Well done to @LadPolitics for paying out so quickly on the "Osborne being called Jeffrey in the Commons" bet — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) June 25, 2013 It’s not often that apparently long-term political bets come good very quickly and the bookies pay out. Last Thursday I urged everybody to get…

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Who’ll go down least well with voters – EdM or George?

Who’ll go down least well with voters – EdM or George?

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Tweet Is that what the election could come down to? Some elections are won; most are lost. Rarely do the electorate have the luxury of two parties, both of which look like they could offer a strong, competent team which could govern well and lead the country forward in the way it would like. Sometimes they don’t have any and it’s a matter of choosing the least-worst option or opting out altogether. It’s not inconceivable that 2015 may be a…

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George needs to choose between politics and economics?

George needs to choose between politics and economics?

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Will the growth figures mean an end to his split jobs? The two positive things for ministers about today’s third quarter of negative figures are that everybody is focused on the Olympics and because the commons is in recess there are not the usual Wednesday PMQs. But they won’t go away totally unnoticed and provide further ammunition for those who are questioning the government’s strategy and Osborne’s varied roles. An added challenge is that the “blame the last lot” rhetoric…

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Will YouGov fuel the Cable speculation?

Will YouGov fuel the Cable speculation?

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Preferred Chancellor Total Vince Cable 22% William Hague 16% Ken Clarke 9% Phillip Hammond 3% Theresa May 2% Nick Clegg 2% Don’t know 47% We’ve now got the full details of the Sunday Times YouGov finding on who those politicians it is thought would make the best replacement Chancellor for Mr.Osborne. As can be seen there was a high don’t know element. By netting off the don’t knows we find that of those expressing a view 42% go for the…

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