Ok, but what was your careful calm assessment of Osborne's performance and its effect?
It will have no effect whatsoever But I thought he gave as good as he got. Compared to Hilary Benn it was a masterclass in dealing with Andrew Neil. I expect he is quite happy with it, as are others in my timeline (clearly I follow different people to Plato, although she regularly posts the same things I do...)..
Twitter James Forsyth @JGForsyth 4m4 minutes ago Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
I don't like Osborne, so I'm probably biased, but if he was Pinocchio, his nose would have been scratching Neill's cheek. The 200,000 annual immigrants assumed by the Treasury for their figures, vigorously promoted by George, was a hoot. I'm still waiting for Remain to explain.
The lies from Osborne were just piled up. At no point can I recall him admitting a mistake, correcting it, saying sorry and moving on. Which is the mark of a good Leader.
The purpose of the Treasury report was to determine the effects on GDP per capita resulting from changes to trading arrangements and foreign direct investment under different Brexit scenarios. It didn't look at immigration at all and simply assumed 185,000 per year for the purpose of comparison. The fact that they used this figure rather than an unrealistically low figure is, I would have thought, evidence that the Osborne wasn't telling them what to do.
Of course, if you also assume sharp restrictions to immigration under a Brexit scenario, the figures look even worse for the UK. This wasn't part of the Treasury remit though.
Osborne banging on about Nigel Farage, repeating the name as much as possible.
My 15-year-old daughter got an email yesterday from Stronger In, basically asking her to tweet anti-Farage messages during yesterday's debate. There were a few "reminders" as to how nasty he is, presumably for a bit of encouragement. E.g. "He calls gays f**s" and "He doesn't think migrants should be treated for AIDS on the NHS".
My daughter isn't old enough to vote, but she did show me the email and comment that: "They don't give a single reason to vote In, they just make it sound like a way to get at Farage. It is a really important decision and they make it sound like it all comes down to how best to spite one man?!?".
And then they wonder why their campaign is going down like a lead balloon when they have absolutely nothing positive to say about the EU! Think about a salesman adopting that tactic trying to sell you a BMW car. The Audi is of crap build quality, the Mercedes is out-dated, the Lexus well that's those Japanese who built that outside the EU so can't be as good, so by default you should buy the Beamer! Well that's how the tone of the Remain campaign is coming across to me so far!
@JGForsyth: Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
Now, where are all the Brexiteers who were bigging her up as a potential future leader?
Twitter James Forsyth @JGForsyth 4m4 minutes ago Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
Dead cat move by Osborne, in its timing, oh look over there.
Listening to DC yesterday and Geo Osborne tonight there seems to be a change in focus directed at Farage and trying to conflate Farage with Vote Leave. It will be interesting to see if this attack format intensifiies over the rest of the campaign
Mr. Eagles, if she goes to Remain, it'll be interesting to see if she has similar views of the £4,300 figure. Of course, she may go to a different Leave campaign, or none.
@JGForsyth: Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
Now, where are all the Brexiteers who were bigging her up as a potential future leader?
I was always very nervous about Sarah Wollaston.
She's a loose cannon.
I think she's been an attention seeker from the start, I couldn't care less what she does.
@JGForsyth: Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
Now, where are all the Brexiteers who were bigging her up as a potential future leader?
I was always very nervous about Sarah Wollaston.
She's a loose cannon.
Like Carswell, no? Someone who forms their own view, then works out which party comes closest.
@JGForsyth: Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
Now, where are all the Brexiteers who were bigging her up as a potential future leader?
I was always very nervous about Sarah Wollaston.
She's a loose cannon.
I think she's been an attention seeker from the start, I couldn't care less what she does.
Shame about Wollaston, I agree with her about the £350m, I think it is the wrong figure and I don't think the leave camp should use it. The real figure of £200m is still large enough and is actually true. I don't see much difference between £350m per week or £200m per week in terms of shifting votes, it is unfortunate that the leave campaign have dug their heels in so much over the use of it, when they should have held their hands up and moved to the £200m per week figure when the ONS told them to.
Shame about Wollaston, I agree with her about the £350m, I think it is the wrong figure and I don't think the leave camp should use it. The real figure of £200m is still large enough and is actually true. I don't see much difference between £350m per week or £200m per week in terms of shifting votes, it is unfortunate that the leave campaign have dug their heels in so much over the use of it, when they should have held their hands up and moved to the £200m per week figure when the ONS told them to.
Indeed, I actually persuaded a voter to switch from Leave to Remain this evening.
Maybe they just said it to make you go away.
I've done that to an insistent Labour doorknocker before. "Yes, you've really made me realise that the Tories are all bastards and Ed Miliband will be a great PM".
Its been a long time coming, but finally Andrew Neil got George Osborne back in the hot seat, and I thought interview was excellent. Andrew Neil was as usual, extremely robust and well informed, by far our best political interviewer. Osborne also handled this very combative interview well, remaining calm and focused with the task in hand.
Shame about Wollaston, I agree with her about the £350m, I think it is the wrong figure and I don't think the leave camp should use it. The real figure of £200m is still large enough and is actually true. I don't see much difference between £350m per week or £200m per week in terms of shifting votes, it is unfortunate that the leave campaign have dug their heels in so much over the use of it, when they should have held their hands up and moved to the £200m per week figure when the ONS told them to.
It's a brave move by Woollaston.
She's now put herself in that awkward/principled squad box with the likes of Frank Field and Douglas Carswell. In parliamentary terms shes too much of a loose cannon for people to feel comfortable with but probably can be the type of crusading MP on an issue.
Ok, but what was your careful calm assessment of Osborne's performance and its effect?
It will have no effect whatsoever
But I thought he gave as good as he got. Compared to Hilary Benn it was a masterclass in dealing with Andrew Neil. I expect he is quite happy with it, as are others in my timeline (clearly I follow different people to Plato, although she regularly posts the same things I do...)
Looking forward to IDS
I don't agree, I thought Benn did as well as Osbourne. I was hoping for blood but didn't get any.
Shame about Wollaston, I agree with her about the £350m, I think it is the wrong figure and I don't think the leave camp should use it. The real figure of £200m is still large enough and is actually true. I don't see much difference between £350m per week or £200m per week in terms of shifting votes, it is unfortunate that the leave campaign have dug their heels in so much over the use of it, when they should have held their hands up and moved to the £200m per week figure when the ONS told them to.
It's a brave move by Woollaston.
She's now put herself in that awkward/principled squad box with the likes of Frank Field and Douglas Carswell. In parliamentary terms shes too much of a loose cannon for people to feel comfortable with but probably can be the type of crusading MP on an issue.
@JGForsyth: Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
Well quite.
She can't suddenly think the EU is so brilliant she wants to remain.
I can understand walking out just not over. Perhaps to the other leave?
Shame about Wollaston, I agree with her about the £350m, I think it is the wrong figure and I don't think the leave camp should use it. The real figure of £200m is still large enough and is actually true. I don't see much difference between £350m per week or £200m per week in terms of shifting votes, it is unfortunate that the leave campaign have dug their heels in so much over the use of it, when they should have held their hands up and moved to the £200m per week figure when the ONS told them to.
It's a brave move by Woollaston.
She's now put herself in that awkward/principled squad box with the likes of Frank Field and Douglas Carswell. In parliamentary terms shes too much of a loose cannon for people to feel comfortable with but probably can be the type of crusading MP on an issue.
Next Health Secretary ?
No.
Shes put herself on the wrong side of Remain and Leave and would be too difficult to manage in a cabinet whoever wins. She could however make her name of specific NHS issues.
Listening to DC yesterday and Geo Osborne tonight there seems to be a change in focus directed at Farage and trying to conflate Farage with Vote Leave. It will be interesting to see if this attack format intensifiies over the rest of the campaign
I think that is the plan, which is why he isn't in Vote Leave, it allows plausible deniability of sorts.
Comments
She gave an awful interview on Sky, all very metro smug and her killer fact was that 200 artists had supported Remain.
"It will have no effect whatsoever."
I suspect you're right, but he might be better advising customers on wallpaper design.
James Forsyth @JGForsyth 4m4 minutes ago
Unconfirmed rumours in Westminster tonight that @sarahwollaston is going to defect from Vote Leave tomorrow & criticise £350 million figure
Of course, if you also assume sharp restrictions to immigration under a Brexit scenario, the figures look even worse for the UK. This wasn't part of the Treasury remit though.
She's a loose cannon.
Who will be next in line for their ire?
On wings we have this from @afneil
https://twitter.com/afneil/status/740630793131859968
I guess Mr Stewart has fallen off Plato's timeline...
https://twitter.com/sarahwollaston?lang=en-gb
@oliverdarcy: Bloomberg: Some Trump advisors worried he will post VP announcement on Twitter w/o warning https://t.co/Q8D21Az69S https://t.co/WBBmoaAV9X
https://twitter.com/sarahwollaston/status/736577238485901313
@JohnRentoul: The problems of immigration are the "first world problems" of success: Hamish McRae @IndyVoices https://t.co/SogdAnwQkE
NEW THREAD NEW THREAD
Oh, wait...
She's now put herself in that awkward/principled squad box with the likes of Frank Field and Douglas Carswell. In parliamentary terms shes too much of a loose cannon for people to feel comfortable with but probably can be the type of crusading MP on an issue.
What I can't understand is, why would that make someone decide to switch sides (if that is what she is going to do)?
They both look shifty on immigration though.
NEW THREAD NEW THREAD - THIS TIME I MEAN IT
She can't suddenly think the EU is so brilliant she wants to remain.
I can understand walking out just not over. Perhaps to the other leave?
Shes put herself on the wrong side of Remain and Leave and would be too difficult to manage in a cabinet whoever wins. She could however make her name of specific NHS issues.
If she does defect to Remain, I think that'll be viewed as quite cynical given her views up until now, which will then be thrown back at her.
The Tories are really not having a good campaign, reputations are being shredded.
Meanwhile Jezza probably needs new bollocks as he's laughed the last lot off.
@anandMenon1 says EU will be smaller in 30yrs time to @ITVAllegra https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/
Allegra Stratton Retweeted
UK in a Changing EU @UKandEU
@angusarmstrong8 said he'd be surprised all countries in euro now will be in it in 5/6yrs @itvnews @ITVAllegra https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/
The former will lose members to the latter but that is better than what is happening now.