George Osborne has a number of claims to his name as the Chancellor of the Exchequer; he’s the youngest Chancellor in over a century, the author of the most radical austerity programme since the war and, even more impressive, Janan Ganesh’s biography of the man born Gideon Oliver Osborne reveals that he even once pretended to be a member of the England under-21 football team.
You’d think it couldn’t possibly get more exciting than that, but the job of being Chancellor throws up many a thrilling moment, and today marks one particular example; the autumn statement. Will his unofficial nickname as The Austerity Chancellor hold up?
If early reports are to be believed, yes. Osborne is expected to announce that his austerity drive will continue until 2018. In fact, courtesy of various reports, I could tell you much of what is to appear in the autumn statement. That is, after all, the nature of a big political announcement or speech. By the time said speech or announcement is made, we already know most of what is to be said. In the case of Osborne in particular it’s funny that you can so easily be privy to such sneak peeks, but know so little about the person behind them.
For, until recently, we really didn’t know much about Mr Osborne. Lucky that someone finally decided to write a biography of him then. Janan Ganesh’s biography of the Chancellor, as well as revealing the hilarious football story mentioned above, is the first biography of George Osborne.
There is no more controversial figure in British politics than George Osborne. He has produced the most unpopular Budget of recent times and made enemies on his own side as well as on the left.
George Osborne: The Austerity Chancellor is the story of his extraordinary ascent to power: a journey driven by luck, guile, resilience, risk-taking and searing ambition. This is the chronicle of a time as well as a man. Osborne has had a starring role or front-row seat at all the Tory dramas since the fall of Thatcher. As a back-room adviser, an opposition MP and a Cabinet member, he has lived through the dog days of the Major government, the party’s long years in opposition, its eventual resurrection and now the glories and burdens of office.
Here is the inside story of George Osborne and the political era he has helped to shape.