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Conservative conference sketch: Getting to know George
Sam Macrory
The flyers for Andrew Rawnsley's head to head with George Osborne boldly promised a 'highly personal' interview with the shadow chancellor. Osborne, however, refused to play ball, openly side stepping Rawnsley's unsubtle promptings.
Perhaps he had seen the fate the befell Nick Clegg in Brighton a few weeks previously. Using a patience-snapping Paxman-esque technique, Rawnsley cornered the Lib Dem home affairs question by repeating the same question ad nauseum and prompting Clegg to admit that "one day...if there was vacancy" he might like to stand for the leadership of the Lib Dems.
Rawnsley provided the hook, Clegg unwittingly gave him - and the assembled hacks - the line. No such joy from Osborne. While Clegg's often meandering answers left him in knots, Osborne used as a few a words as possible and provided not even a morsel for the crowd. A combination of his carefully honed dry style and the utterly airless room - perhaps all part of the ploy - had an almost sophoric effect, and there were more than a few closed eyes in the hall.
But the mood in the Tory camp has improved steadily by the day in Blackpool, and Osborne - who jokingly suggested that agreeing to Rawnsley's interview was 'the worst mistake' of his political career - was in no mood to deflect from what has largely been an upbeat affair. He trotted out the familiar anti-Brown themes - to predictable applause - and explained the Tories' inheritance tax proposals with little drama, only veering into the promised personal territory when asked about his strained relationship with the prime minister.
"Well, he started it" replied Osborne to the first big laugh of the day.
Brown, he insisted, had gone "out of his way" to make his life difficult, and was not one to make friends easily.
Over a decade of working the corridors of Westminster and patrolling the warrens of CCHQ in its various guises has shaped a consummate politician. Away from the microphones Osborne is said to have a schoolboyish sense of humour and a relaxed manner - the moment the cameras are on the jokes are set to one side. Osborne kept a large part of himself hidden from the audience, and Rawnsley seemed in no mood to push him.
Lack of experience? Check. Too privileged a background? Check. Future ambitions? Check. We've heard the questions before, and Osborne the automaton has the scripted answers to all of them.
Anyone who changes their name by deed poll at just 13 years old is clearly thinking one step ahead, and the politician formerly known as Gideon was in no mood to veer from, what I would imagine, is a pain stakingly mapped out career path.
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Published: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 09:02:00 GMT+01
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