Morning:
6°c
George Osborne: We can take ‘safe’ Labour seats in London and win outright
Joe Murphy, Political Editor4 May 2010
George Osborne today reveals the Tories are targeting safe Labour seats around London and claims an outright election victory is “within our grasp”.
In an interview with the Standard, he departed from the party's official line of caution by naming a string of London seats where Conservatives think huge Labour majorities have suddenly become vulnerable.
They include Hayes & Harlington, where Labour's John McDonnell had a massive 10,594 or 28 per cent majority in 2005. It would only fall to the Tories on a swing of more than 14 per cent, the sort of seismic shift normally only seen in a landslide.
Others claimed to be tottering are Feltham & Heston, where expenses scandal MP Alan Keen has a 19 per cent majority, and Harrow West, where aid minister Gareth Thomas has an 18 per cent majority.
“There are lots of seats in London which at the beginning of the campaign I wouldn't have thought it possible to win but now I think we can,” said Mr Osborne. “Hayes & Harlington was not on our radar at all at the beginning of the campaign.” The shadow chancellor, also co-ordinator of the campaign, said: “We are fighting for a Conservative majority. I think that's within our grasp.”
Mr Osborne was speaking at Tory HQ which, on a sunny morning, was jam-packed with serious-faced young men and women crouching over screens or whispering into telephones.
A palpable tension infects the open plan office, where four tieless shadow cabinet ministers including Michael Gove and Oliver Letwin quietly work alongside the juniors. Above them, the famous election countdown clock records two days, 20 hours and 37 minutes until 0700 on Thursday, when the polling stations open. There was no larking or even much smiling: the stakes are too high.
If the campaign succeeds, Mr Osborne will become Chancellor on Friday. With his commitment to bone-scraping spending cuts, most MPs expect that by the time he turns 39 in three weeks he will be on his way to becoming one of the least popular holders of that office. “At the moment I'm about 100 per cent focused on getting into office rather than thinking about how we stay there,” he said. His strategy is to be upfront about the plan. “I think it is better to command respect and do the difficult things, which, by the way, avoid much more difficult decisions down the track. I mean, look at what's happened in Greece and Ireland.” More practically, he hopes that popular policies such as cancelling next year's National Insurance rise, tough curbs on welfare and cutting immigration will sustain a Tory government through the tough times.
His first act if the Tories win will be to order “a proper opening of the books, so the public can see what a mess the nation's finances are”. Next he will sign the order for a five per cent pay cut for Cabinet ministers “to show we are leading by example”. He will begin planning an emergency Budget that will map out spending cuts.
He gave a commitment to keep London's £16 billion Crossrail scheme, although he confirmed he will look for savings. “I think Londoners would expect me to get good value for their money.”
Since Lord Mandelson's return to Cabinet, Mr Osborne has been the target of regular Labour attacks as “the weakest link”, “a novice” and “a schoolboy”. He shrugged it off, though stiffly. “If you're the shadow chancellor and the election campaign coordinator, you would be doing something wrong if you didn't attract fire.” Attacks on his education at fee-paying St Paul's are “spite”, he says, adding that the biggest privilege he enjoyed was growing up in a close and loving family. His father's business, the Osborne & Little furnishings business, founded in 1968, was not built on old money but from scratch.
“When he started it was just him and his business partner working out of the kitchen,” he says. “I am immensely proud of what he did. There are hundreds of thousands of Londoners doing the same and I want to support them as they follow their dream.”
His children, Luke, eight, and Liberty, six, have begun to notice that Daddy comes under fire in the media. “They are pretty relaxed about it,” he said. “I took them out campaigning for the first time two weeks ago and were surprised when Rory Bremner joined us, dressed as William Hague.”
He claimed his relationship with David Cameron will defy the historic tendency of Chancellors and Premiers to fall out. “I can't think of the last time we violently disagreed with each other,” he said. “I don't want David Cameron's job. and I don't feel somehow cheated out of the leadership. There's a big difference.”
Reader views (20)
@Edward, London, 04/05/2010 17:01
But then again, you won't hear that from Labour, as they are already there, you could argue that stating you would have an emergency budget within 50 days an arrogant statement under the same rules, but it is a statement of intent, nothing else. The point of adding arrogance and nefarious plans behind everything the the Tories do is Labour's preferred method of smear campaigning and scare-mongering, which unfortunately, some people have fallen for. Taking tax credits away from people earning £50k or more got a nice boo from those carefully selected residents of Sunderland at the weekend, but how many people in Sunderland earn over £50k? It was embarrassing, almost Pantomime-like.
- Kris, London, 04/05/2010 17:32
Report abuse
@ - Kris, London, 04/05/2010 16:41
Sure, but you would expect they would be ready wouldn't you, if not what else have they been preparing for during the last 5 years.
What is the point of stating the obvious and looking presumptuous, it just has the hall mark of arrogance and that does not sit comfortably with the public, just ask Mr Kinnock.
- Edward, London, 04/05/2010 17:01
Report abuse
@Edward, London, 04/05/2010 16:20
I would agree with you bar one major issue, this election has been almost revolutionised by 24 hour TV coverage, where every single action is dissected by a host of so called "election experts". In this instance, As a Tory supporter, I personally want to hear that they are preparing for government, and if the boot was on the other foot, and Labour (or the LibDems) were ahead in the polls, and were a week away from winning, I couldn't argue that was the wrong thing to do (despite being a Tory). The only problem is that it causes all the Labour supporters to throw their toys out of the pram, which unfortunately, stinks of bitterness, and a desperation to cling to their 13 years of power.
- Kris, London, 04/05/2010 16:41
Report abuse
- Kris, London, 04/05/2010 15:32
Kris
You totally miss the point, the issue isn't that they are making plans it's the broadcasting of the plan before the event, that's the problem. You seem to have a very naive view of things.
It's like celebrating an exam success before even sitting the exam, confidence yes, going to the pub and getting slaughtered no.
- Edward, London, 04/05/2010 16:20
Report abuse
What exactly has been shown by having these three political debates? Well actiually that the UK does have a third party, that right now it has a leader that is competent enough to run the country on is own unlike previous leaders. His openess and honesty has obviously reached people who are disenchated with a two party politics.
What kind of country is it that has an electoral system where if the Tories reach 31%, labour 28% and the Lib dems 41% (ish) would win outright poower.
This is not democracy but something invented to suit the ruling aristocrats almost 100 years ago.
- Tony, Hove England, 04/05/2010 15:58
Report abuse
There seems to be a number of psychologically damaged people around who are against the Conservative party at all costs.
never mind that Brown has been the worst chancellor EVER. Never mind the £170 billion pound debt that will take a generation to pay off. never mind that every Labour budget since 2002 has been incurring ever-increasing borrowing.
Those of us who are old enough and numerate know that Labour have never been able to run the country's finances.
Labour can only tax and waste, kidding the populace that they are only taxing the so-called rich.
Yes, once the Conservatives buggered up the UK finances - but they had the sense to turn that round into a budget surplus by 1997.
I'm afraid that this attitude can only be based on envy; it can't be based on reason.
- Sally70, Bedford, 04/05/2010 15:52
Report abuse
@Kunle Sotunde, London, 04/05/2010 14:43
Again, someone apportioning an emotion behind a statement that simply is not there. There is no arrogance in the Conservative party, how could there be? The polls have been predicting a hung parliament since Clegg did his X-Factor audition. I love that people are complaining about the Tories making plans about what they'd do on Friday if elected, any righ-minded group would start to formulate plans for something that they are in the lead to win. You'd all be complaining more if they hadn't planned ahead and seemed unorganised on Friday. The only "bare-faced arrogance" is from people like you that deem all Conservatives as "Eton toffs", and that somehow makes them unfit for office.
Grow up.
- Kris, London, 04/05/2010 15:32
Report abuse
Rod...you could get 20000 mates together, all vote against the Tories and they'll still win in Epping. It's the epitome of a safe seat. Your vote won't make the slightest difference so you have the luxury of being able to vote for someone whose principles and policies you agree with. You have your own mind, apparently, so use it.
- East, London, 04/05/2010 15:19
Report abuse
This won't make any difference to me. I'll still be voting Labour. Illegal wars, use of torture, legislation against peaceful protest and over 3,500 new offences on the statute book since 97 will not sway me from granting more power to the champions of ordinary working families!
- Andrew, City, 04/05/2010 15:02
Report abuse
Oliver Letwin should be back rallying support in his own constituency for if we believe what we read West Dorset could fall to the Lib-Dems. Now wouldn't that be embarassing.
- Ken Bethell, Mazarron, Spain, 04/05/2010 15:01
Report abuse
Rod in Epping,
you seem confused, the whole point of an election is for you to cast your vote the way you see fit.
Why do you keep posting as if someone is trying to prevent you doing just that?
you vote how you want, just don't be surprised when the much larger majority votes in a diffent manner - they way they want.
- scotty, london, 04/05/2010 14:45
Report abuse
Look at the bare face arrogance of the man. He cannot say he knows how the great British Public will be voting on Thursday. He is only thinking what others members of his party are thinking. Wouldn't it be a good feeling if he wakes disappointed on Friday!!
- Kunle Sotunde, London, 04/05/2010 14:43
Report abuse
Good for you Rod! Do they really think we are that stupid? And as for the strong woman in Mitcham and her merry bunch of canvassers - do they also think that people dont have ability to discern for themselves?? Not even after the GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN????? surely its times like this when everyone should realise the importance of their vote after suffering the worst attrocities of capitalism for which the tories are the greatess proponents!!!
- kirsty, UK, 04/05/2010 14:28
Report abuse
A proper opening of the books so that the public can see that the government couldn't even run an efficient kitchen.
- Miriam, Waterloo, 04/05/2010 14:19
Report abuse
What does "a commitment to keep London's £16 billion Crossrail scheme, although he confirmed he will look for savings" mean at this stage?
Significant parts are being built. Keys oontracts, including the big ones for tunnelling, are due to be let this summer.
Where is the scope for another round of savings or re-designs without a huge delay?
If you use the Central Line between Stratford and Holborn, can your pohysical or mental health risk a Tory government?
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON, 04/05/2010 14:19
Report abuse
So will Tory cabinet minister be barred from having outside jobs or better still all Tory MPs be barred??
Why has he not used this space to spell out the cuts in benefits he will make?
(ps Cameron has just said on TV he will ban double jobbing wonder how many will agree with this?)
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 04/05/2010 14:19
Report abuse
I see NuLabour HQ have got their flunky bloggers out in strength again today.
Waiverers are beginning to realise what 13 years of NuLabour mismanagement & misrule has done to the country.
Can you imagine another 5 years of Crash Gordon and that vile creature Mandelspin, not to mention the rest of their no-hoper cabinet.
No thank you, BIGOT = Brown Is Going On Thursday!!
- John Bull, London, 04/05/2010 14:18
Report abuse
I'm with Rod. All this hype in favour of Cameron and spin against Clegg doesn' impress me one bit. Give it a rest.
- Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher, 04/05/2010 14:08
Report abuse
Watch out for Mitcham & Morden too. The Tories have a very strong woman candidate there, backed up by a great team of canvassers.
- patrick, Wandsworth, 04/05/2010 13:36
Report abuse
Yeah yeah...make sure you guys have this story on Friday when it will be seen it is a total fabrication. Why does the media think that because someone might win, we will vote for them? I have my own mind and will not be influenced by anyone.....sorry guys but I wont be swayed by non-stories such as this. I will vote to keep the Tories out.
- Rod, Epping, UK, 04/05/2010 13:33
Report abuse
