Osborne: Too far, too soon?

George Osborne is being seen as a Tory rising star but may have to be conscious of not over-reaching himself.

Elected to parliament in 1997 the Tatton MP, who was a junior staffer to John Major, is seen as an articulate member of the next generation of Tory bigwigs.

But at 33 his relative youth and inexperience could count against him.

Some may fear he has been promoted too fast - worrying that in order to present a fresh face the Tories have rapidly promoted someone who was widely seen as potential leadership material.

The analogy of man to boy could play negatively when he is pitted against such an experienced chancellor as Gordon Brown.

The Tatton MP was a Downing Street and Central Office aide during the dying days of the Major administration.

He went on to become a speechwriter to William Hague, still recording income in that position in the register of members’ interests.

Heir to the Osborne & Little home furnishings fortune, the new shadow chancellor is respected amongst his colleagues - with a sharp wit an an acute intellect.

Howard’s decision to promote Osborne from the junior shadow Cabinet position of shadow chief secretary to the second-in-command post of shadow chancellor is being seen as part of a wider reshuffle and future leadership strategy.

In the coming weeks and months he will have to outshine MPs Sir Malcolm Rifkind and David Davis and fellow rising star David Cameron if he is to pursue early leadership ambitions.

However some close to Osborne believe he is himself surprised at his meteoric rise through the Tory ranks and suggest he may not want to gamble his position by making a premature bid for the leadership.