During Prime Minister's questions the Labour leader slipped a cheeky reference to George Osborne's alleged links to dominatrix Natalie Rowe.
Ed Miliband used his time at the Dispatch box to criticise the Government's plans to cut support for childcare at a time of rising unemployment for women. He then accused Chancellor George Osborne of "lashing himself to the mast" in his refusal to change course over the economy.
The apparently deliberate reference produced laughter from the Labour benches.
Lest anyone be in any doubt what the meant, Mr Miliband added after a pause: "not for the first time, perhaps".
On Monday, old – and strongly denied – allegations resurfaced about George Osborne's links to an escort agency charging clients for sadomasochistic sex.
Showing posts with label George Osborne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Osborne. Show all posts
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Union Leaders Warn Of 'Long, Hard And Dirty' Battle Over Pensions
Ministers accused the unions of jumping the gun because negotiations on the pension shake-up are continuing.
Delegates at the TUC conference in London voted unanimously for co-ordinated opposition to public-sector pension reform. Leaders of 10 unions subsequently announced their intention to ballot their members on industrial action, and revealed plans for a nationwide 'day of action' on 30 November.
Trade union leaders warned that the dead will be left unburied and rubbish uncollected as they announced plans for the biggest programme of strikes for a generation over the Government's decision to cut public sector pensions.
Officials raised the spectre of the 1978-79 "Winter of Discontent" as another 10 unions announced that they will ballot more than 2m members on industrial action.
The first "day of action" will be held on 30 November, the day after the Chancellor George Osborne unveils his autumn economic statement. Action will include one-day walkouts to lunchtime rallies, and is expected to range from senior civil servants to dustmen.
Workers being balloted include firemen, hospital and ambulance workers, police support staff, teachers and lecturers, care workers, meals-on-wheels staff, prison officers, refuse collectors, street cleaners and cemetery workers.
Four unions representing civil servants and teachers held a one-day strike in June, and yesterday the University and College Union announced that 77 per cent of its members had voted in favour of action over pensions.
Students at 67 universities could face disruption from next month, including a work-to-rule by lecturers, who may set exams but refuse to mark them.
After the TUC conference in London voted unanimously in favour of co-ordinated action, 24 public sector unions agreed their detailed strategy at a "council of war".
They are preparing for a "long haul" running through to next summer, with warnings that the London Olympics and celebrations to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee could be disrupted.
"We are talking about something that is long and hard and dirty," said Brian Strutton, national secretary for public services at the GMB. "We are assuming this will be a huge setpiece conflict running for a long time."
Ministers accused the unions of jumping the gun because negotiations on the pension shake-up are continuing. They said the talks could continue until December so there was no justification for taking action in November.
Downing Street said the proposed action was "very disappointing", while Mr Osborne appealed to the unions to halt what he called "this deeply irresponsible action".
Ministers said they would not back down on their plans to shave £2.8bn a year off the pensions bill by 2014-15 as this would unsettle the financial markets. But they said they were open to "different ways of cutting the cake".
However, on the final day of the TUC conference, union leaders queued up to condemn the Government's stance and declared that the talks were making no progress.
Brendan Barber, the TUC general secretary, said there was "huge anger" over the pensions proposals and said 30 November would see "the biggest trade union mobilisation in a generation".
He added: "We remain absolutely committed, in good faith, to seeking a fair, negotiated settlement of this dispute so that this action will not be necessary. But the Government needs to understand the strength of unions' resolve."
Labour urged both sides to step back from the brink.
Angela Eagle, the shadow Chief Treasury Secretary, said: "Ministers must show a willingness to conduct proper and meaningful negotiations rather than pursuing a path of deliberate confrontation. But unions should also demonstrate they intend to exhaust every option of reaching a settlement."
Delegates at the TUC conference in London voted unanimously for co-ordinated opposition to public-sector pension reform. Leaders of 10 unions subsequently announced their intention to ballot their members on industrial action, and revealed plans for a nationwide 'day of action' on 30 November.
Trade union leaders warned that the dead will be left unburied and rubbish uncollected as they announced plans for the biggest programme of strikes for a generation over the Government's decision to cut public sector pensions.
Officials raised the spectre of the 1978-79 "Winter of Discontent" as another 10 unions announced that they will ballot more than 2m members on industrial action.
The first "day of action" will be held on 30 November, the day after the Chancellor George Osborne unveils his autumn economic statement. Action will include one-day walkouts to lunchtime rallies, and is expected to range from senior civil servants to dustmen.
Workers being balloted include firemen, hospital and ambulance workers, police support staff, teachers and lecturers, care workers, meals-on-wheels staff, prison officers, refuse collectors, street cleaners and cemetery workers.
Four unions representing civil servants and teachers held a one-day strike in June, and yesterday the University and College Union announced that 77 per cent of its members had voted in favour of action over pensions.
Students at 67 universities could face disruption from next month, including a work-to-rule by lecturers, who may set exams but refuse to mark them.
After the TUC conference in London voted unanimously in favour of co-ordinated action, 24 public sector unions agreed their detailed strategy at a "council of war".
They are preparing for a "long haul" running through to next summer, with warnings that the London Olympics and celebrations to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee could be disrupted.
"We are talking about something that is long and hard and dirty," said Brian Strutton, national secretary for public services at the GMB. "We are assuming this will be a huge setpiece conflict running for a long time."
Ministers accused the unions of jumping the gun because negotiations on the pension shake-up are continuing. They said the talks could continue until December so there was no justification for taking action in November.
Downing Street said the proposed action was "very disappointing", while Mr Osborne appealed to the unions to halt what he called "this deeply irresponsible action".
Ministers said they would not back down on their plans to shave £2.8bn a year off the pensions bill by 2014-15 as this would unsettle the financial markets. But they said they were open to "different ways of cutting the cake".
However, on the final day of the TUC conference, union leaders queued up to condemn the Government's stance and declared that the talks were making no progress.
Brendan Barber, the TUC general secretary, said there was "huge anger" over the pensions proposals and said 30 November would see "the biggest trade union mobilisation in a generation".
He added: "We remain absolutely committed, in good faith, to seeking a fair, negotiated settlement of this dispute so that this action will not be necessary. But the Government needs to understand the strength of unions' resolve."
Labour urged both sides to step back from the brink.
Angela Eagle, the shadow Chief Treasury Secretary, said: "Ministers must show a willingness to conduct proper and meaningful negotiations rather than pursuing a path of deliberate confrontation. But unions should also demonstrate they intend to exhaust every option of reaching a settlement."
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Osborne 'Not Distracted' By Claims Over Private Life
No 10 has said Chancellor George Osborne is "100% focused" on the economy amid allegations about his private life before he became an MP.
The claims, dating back nearly 20 years, were made in Australia by ex-escort agency boss Natalie Rowe, who had a child with a friend of the MP.
Ms Rowe also claimed her phone may have been hacked by the News of the World.
A spokesman for Mr Osborne has said there is "nothing new" in her claims, which have been repeatedly denied.
The News of the World published a photo of Mr Osborne and Ms Rowe on its front page in 2005, when the Conservatives were in opposition and Mr Osborne was running David Cameron's Conservative leadership campaign.
At the time, Mr Osborne said he had met Ms Rowe when he was 22 and she was the partner of a close friend of his who developed a serious drug problem.
But he strenuously denied any improper conduct himself.
In an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC, Ms Rowe repeated allegations first made in 2005 and also claimed police had told her that her name was on a list of phone numbers seized from private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, jailed for illegally intercepting voicemail messages in 2007.
The Metropolitan Police have not said whether her name had featured in their investigation into phone hacking allegations.
Asked about the allegations, a No 10 spokesman said it was "very clear to me that the chancellor is 100% focused on the UK economy".
A spokesman for Mr Osborne commented: "These are old allegations that were widely reported and denied years ago. There is nothing new in them."
The claims, dating back nearly 20 years, were made in Australia by ex-escort agency boss Natalie Rowe, who had a child with a friend of the MP.
Ms Rowe also claimed her phone may have been hacked by the News of the World.
A spokesman for Mr Osborne has said there is "nothing new" in her claims, which have been repeatedly denied.
The News of the World published a photo of Mr Osborne and Ms Rowe on its front page in 2005, when the Conservatives were in opposition and Mr Osborne was running David Cameron's Conservative leadership campaign.
At the time, Mr Osborne said he had met Ms Rowe when he was 22 and she was the partner of a close friend of his who developed a serious drug problem.
But he strenuously denied any improper conduct himself.
In an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC, Ms Rowe repeated allegations first made in 2005 and also claimed police had told her that her name was on a list of phone numbers seized from private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, jailed for illegally intercepting voicemail messages in 2007.
The Metropolitan Police have not said whether her name had featured in their investigation into phone hacking allegations.
Asked about the allegations, a No 10 spokesman said it was "very clear to me that the chancellor is 100% focused on the UK economy".
A spokesman for Mr Osborne commented: "These are old allegations that were widely reported and denied years ago. There is nothing new in them."
Coalition Braced For Boundaries Revolt
MPs may mutiny over changes to constituencies.
George Osborne's Tatton seat is among those that could disappear in the boundary change.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg are braced for a collapse in coalition discipline when dozens of MPs learn this week that their constituencies are to be axed.
The redrawing of parliamentary boundaries, which will cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600, will ignite a political storm tomorrow, with government whips fearing that the prospect of being kicked out of the Commons could lead some MPs into rebellion for the next three years.
"Trying to control Lib Dems is like herding cats at the best of times," said one party source. "If a dozen are de-mob happy, counting down till polling day when they know they'll be out on their ear, it will be a nightmare."
Senior ministers including George Osborne, the Chancellor, Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, and Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, are among those whose seats are under threat.
It raises the prospect of more junior MPs being shunted out of safe seats to make way for key government figures. "It will be every man and woman for themselves," a Tory backbencher said. "It will be piranha pool-time," said another. There is even speculation that some disgruntled MPs could quit within weeks, sparking a wave of by-elections.
MPs will be briefed on the plans tomorrow, before they are published officially by the Boundary Commission on Tuesday. They will only cover England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following later this year. In England there will be 502 new seats. Two will be on the Isle of Wight, but the remaining 500 will have to have between 80,473 and 72,810 voters. There have already been rows about planned constituencies spanning county borders, with Devon and Cornwall MPs refusing to countenance the idea of straddling the Tamar.
In Leeds a tussle is being predicted between Ed Balls, Labour's Shadow Chancellor, and Hilary Benn, the Shadow Leader of the House, while in north-west Scotland, Mr Alexander could be pitched against former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy for a berth.
Analysis by Rob Haywood, a former Tory MP, suggests that Labour stands to lose 25 seats, the Tories 15 and Lib Dems 10, while Lewis Baston, a senior research fellow at the University of Liverpool, predicted that Labour would lose 18 seats, the Tories 15 and Lib Dems 14, with other parties losing three.
Labour has accused the coalition of gerrymandering, while No 10 insists the high number of seats with relatively small electorates favours the Labour Party. At the last election, the average Labour seat had an electorate of 68,487 compared to 72,418 in Tory-won constituencies and 69,440 for Lib Dems. Downing Street argues the policy will save £12m a year.
"By making constituencies more equal in size, the value of people's votes will no longer depend on where you live, and with fewer MPs the cost of politics will be cut," a source said.
A 12-week consultation will be followed by a second phase allowing parties to respond to each other's complaints.
George Osborne's Tatton seat is among those that could disappear in the boundary change.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg are braced for a collapse in coalition discipline when dozens of MPs learn this week that their constituencies are to be axed.
The redrawing of parliamentary boundaries, which will cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600, will ignite a political storm tomorrow, with government whips fearing that the prospect of being kicked out of the Commons could lead some MPs into rebellion for the next three years.
"Trying to control Lib Dems is like herding cats at the best of times," said one party source. "If a dozen are de-mob happy, counting down till polling day when they know they'll be out on their ear, it will be a nightmare."
Senior ministers including George Osborne, the Chancellor, Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, and Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, are among those whose seats are under threat.
It raises the prospect of more junior MPs being shunted out of safe seats to make way for key government figures. "It will be every man and woman for themselves," a Tory backbencher said. "It will be piranha pool-time," said another. There is even speculation that some disgruntled MPs could quit within weeks, sparking a wave of by-elections.
MPs will be briefed on the plans tomorrow, before they are published officially by the Boundary Commission on Tuesday. They will only cover England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following later this year. In England there will be 502 new seats. Two will be on the Isle of Wight, but the remaining 500 will have to have between 80,473 and 72,810 voters. There have already been rows about planned constituencies spanning county borders, with Devon and Cornwall MPs refusing to countenance the idea of straddling the Tamar.
In Leeds a tussle is being predicted between Ed Balls, Labour's Shadow Chancellor, and Hilary Benn, the Shadow Leader of the House, while in north-west Scotland, Mr Alexander could be pitched against former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy for a berth.
Analysis by Rob Haywood, a former Tory MP, suggests that Labour stands to lose 25 seats, the Tories 15 and Lib Dems 10, while Lewis Baston, a senior research fellow at the University of Liverpool, predicted that Labour would lose 18 seats, the Tories 15 and Lib Dems 14, with other parties losing three.
Labour has accused the coalition of gerrymandering, while No 10 insists the high number of seats with relatively small electorates favours the Labour Party. At the last election, the average Labour seat had an electorate of 68,487 compared to 72,418 in Tory-won constituencies and 69,440 for Lib Dems. Downing Street argues the policy will save £12m a year.
"By making constituencies more equal in size, the value of people's votes will no longer depend on where you live, and with fewer MPs the cost of politics will be cut," a source said.
A 12-week consultation will be followed by a second phase allowing parties to respond to each other's complaints.
Monday, 12 September 2011
The Front - British Cabinet Minister In New Hacker Scandal
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer is the latest figure to become entangled in the telephone hacking scandal involving News International, the British news division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
The London Independent reported today (Monday) that the chancellor, George Osborne, was among those targeted by Glenn Mulcaire, a private detective working for NI's News of the World , the Sunday tabloid that was shut down in the wake of the scandal.
Also targeted, said the Independent , was former prostitute Natalie Rowe, who was photographed with Osborne at a party in 2005 with what appeared to be a sheet of paper with a line of cocaine in front of them.
The photograph was featured on the front of two "red-top" newspapers, the newspaper said, referring to the red ink used on the mastheads of scandal sheets like News of the World. Rowe, the Independent said, is due to be interviewed sometime this week on Australian television and may shed some light on the question of why Osborne subsequently recommended that Andy Coulson, the News of the World editor at the time the scandalous photo appeared, be appointed Prime Minister David Cameron's communications chief.
One broadcasting source was quoted by the Independent as remarking "Why put someone forward for a job, as Osborne did, when you know what a disservice they have done you?"
The London Independent reported today (Monday) that the chancellor, George Osborne, was among those targeted by Glenn Mulcaire, a private detective working for NI's News of the World , the Sunday tabloid that was shut down in the wake of the scandal.
Also targeted, said the Independent , was former prostitute Natalie Rowe, who was photographed with Osborne at a party in 2005 with what appeared to be a sheet of paper with a line of cocaine in front of them.
The photograph was featured on the front of two "red-top" newspapers, the newspaper said, referring to the red ink used on the mastheads of scandal sheets like News of the World. Rowe, the Independent said, is due to be interviewed sometime this week on Australian television and may shed some light on the question of why Osborne subsequently recommended that Andy Coulson, the News of the World editor at the time the scandalous photo appeared, be appointed Prime Minister David Cameron's communications chief.
One broadcasting source was quoted by the Independent as remarking "Why put someone forward for a job, as Osborne did, when you know what a disservice they have done you?"
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
George Osborne Cheers Alistair Darling For Stabbing Ed Balls
It is not often that one sees a man enter the Chamber with a dagger protruding from the back of his neck. Ed Balls attempted to make light of this encumbrance, but without success.
The Tories loved reminding everyone that Mr Balls has been stabbed in broad daylight by a member of his own side. The attack was launched by the mild-mannered Alistair Darling, whose work as Labour’s last Chancellor of the Exchequer was persistently sabotaged by Mr Balls, and by Mr Balls’s patron, Gordon Brown.
Beware the vengeance of a mild-mannered man who has been treated abominably for years on end. Not since Sir Geoffrey Howe finished off Margaret Thatcher has a former Chancellor done such damage to a member of his own party as Mr Darling has done to Mr Balls.
George Osborne wasted no time, at Treasury Questions, in taking advantage of this opportunity. When Mr Balls called on the Chancellor to “repeat the bank bonus tax” imposed by Labour, Mr Osborne replied that he was not going to rely on the advice of Treasury officials, but on “the advice I’ve been given by the last Chancellor of the Exchequer”, someone Mr Balls was known to be “very close to”, namely Mr Darling, who had said the bank bonus tax would “have to be a one-off”.
This was followed by repeated references to Mr Darling’s newly published misery memoir, in which he describes how he was undermined by Mr Brown, and by the former Prime Minister’s brutal henchmen, notably Mr Balls.
Mr Osborne assured us that we are “going to be hearing a lot more” about this book. One rather doubts whether Mr Darling wanted the present Chancellor to plug his work with such enthusiasm, but it is too late now.
Mr Balls flushed, shook his head and ran his hand in a horizontal motion from side to side with the palm facing downwards: a gesture indicative of his conviction that the economy is flat-lining.
Labour MPs tried their hardest to embarrass Mr Osborne by pointing to the recent, disappointing growth figures: but the Chancellor just retaliated by pointing to Mr Darling’s memoirs.
Iain Wright (Lab, Hartlepool) attempted to change the subject by referring to Harold Macmillan as “the most successful Chancellor and Prime Minister that Eton has ever produced”, and by quoting Macmillan’s reply when asked what was most likely to blow a government off course: “Events, dear boy, events.”
Mr Osborne accused Mr Wright of “being rather unfair on Hugh Dalton who I think also went to Eton”. It is true that Dalton, who was a rather unappealing Labour Chancellor, went to Eton.
But Mr Osborne ought to have said Mr Wright was being far more unfair to William Gladstone, an Etonian whose achievements as Chancellor and Prime Minister make Macmillan’s look distinctly modest.
The trouble with Mr Osborne is that he is only really interested in the unhappy history of the period 2007-10, as related in Mr Darling’s memoir. By the time this is over we are all going to be bored rigid.
The Tories loved reminding everyone that Mr Balls has been stabbed in broad daylight by a member of his own side. The attack was launched by the mild-mannered Alistair Darling, whose work as Labour’s last Chancellor of the Exchequer was persistently sabotaged by Mr Balls, and by Mr Balls’s patron, Gordon Brown.
Beware the vengeance of a mild-mannered man who has been treated abominably for years on end. Not since Sir Geoffrey Howe finished off Margaret Thatcher has a former Chancellor done such damage to a member of his own party as Mr Darling has done to Mr Balls.
George Osborne wasted no time, at Treasury Questions, in taking advantage of this opportunity. When Mr Balls called on the Chancellor to “repeat the bank bonus tax” imposed by Labour, Mr Osborne replied that he was not going to rely on the advice of Treasury officials, but on “the advice I’ve been given by the last Chancellor of the Exchequer”, someone Mr Balls was known to be “very close to”, namely Mr Darling, who had said the bank bonus tax would “have to be a one-off”.
This was followed by repeated references to Mr Darling’s newly published misery memoir, in which he describes how he was undermined by Mr Brown, and by the former Prime Minister’s brutal henchmen, notably Mr Balls.
Mr Osborne assured us that we are “going to be hearing a lot more” about this book. One rather doubts whether Mr Darling wanted the present Chancellor to plug his work with such enthusiasm, but it is too late now.
Mr Balls flushed, shook his head and ran his hand in a horizontal motion from side to side with the palm facing downwards: a gesture indicative of his conviction that the economy is flat-lining.
Labour MPs tried their hardest to embarrass Mr Osborne by pointing to the recent, disappointing growth figures: but the Chancellor just retaliated by pointing to Mr Darling’s memoirs.
Iain Wright (Lab, Hartlepool) attempted to change the subject by referring to Harold Macmillan as “the most successful Chancellor and Prime Minister that Eton has ever produced”, and by quoting Macmillan’s reply when asked what was most likely to blow a government off course: “Events, dear boy, events.”
Mr Osborne accused Mr Wright of “being rather unfair on Hugh Dalton who I think also went to Eton”. It is true that Dalton, who was a rather unappealing Labour Chancellor, went to Eton.
But Mr Osborne ought to have said Mr Wright was being far more unfair to William Gladstone, an Etonian whose achievements as Chancellor and Prime Minister make Macmillan’s look distinctly modest.
The trouble with Mr Osborne is that he is only really interested in the unhappy history of the period 2007-10, as related in Mr Darling’s memoir. By the time this is over we are all going to be bored rigid.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Bankers Attempt Last-Gasp Osborne Lobby Over Reform
George Osborne is meeting with Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond today as bankers launch a last gasp bid to delay banking reforms.
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond believes banking reform could halt economic recovery.
It is expected that the independent banking commission chaired by Sir John Vickers, which is due to report within two weeks, will recommend that banks split their retail and investment arms to protect the public.
However Mr Diamond is arguing this will prevent banks from lending to small businesses and personal customers as they will have to hold more capital.
There is speculation that if the Vickers report is too strict then Barclays could respond by moving its investment banking arm, Barclays Capital, overseas.
Mr Diamond's attempts to dissuade Mr Osborne from implementing the rules in the short term follow warnings from several pro-business campaigners that major banking changes could throw the economic recovery off course.
Angela Knight, chief executive of the British Banking Association, said earlier this week that "now is not the time" for reforms.
Other heads of British banks are expected to meet with Mr Osborne over the coming days prior to the publication of the Vickers report on September 12th.
Banking reform could yet prove a contentious issue for the coalition, with business secretary Vince Cable accusing bankers of being "disingenuous in the extreme" earlier in the week.
He added: "The uncertainty and instability in the markets makes it all the more necessary that we press ahead and make our banks safe and reform them."
However Mr Osborne is thought to be more sympathetic to the banks position and appears to have an ally in the prime minister, David Cameron, who warned against reforms which put the economy at risk.
Ms Knight said Britain faced a "very difficult autumn" which would only be made worse by news of long-term reform of the banking sector.
"We have a high degree of uncertainty, market turbulence and lack of confidence that governments in other countries have got a sufficient grip on their economies," she commented.
"This is therefore the time to concentrate on economic recovery and paying back... the government and taxpayers.
"By all means think about new regulation but now is not the time to add that as an overlay with respect to costs, uncertainty or whether it is going to do anything beneficial anyway."
John Cridland, head of the Confederation of British Industry, cautioned that any major shake-up of banks at a time of economic uncertainty was "barking mad".
He told the Financial Times newspaper: "Taking action at this moment – this moment of growth peril, which weakens the ability of banks in Britain to provide the finance that businesses need to grow – is just to me barking mad.
"We don't want to force some of our remaining world class British companies to shift away from a focus on the UK because the rules have been set unilaterally in the UK.
"There's an own goal here about to be scored if we get this wrong."
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond believes banking reform could halt economic recovery.
It is expected that the independent banking commission chaired by Sir John Vickers, which is due to report within two weeks, will recommend that banks split their retail and investment arms to protect the public.
However Mr Diamond is arguing this will prevent banks from lending to small businesses and personal customers as they will have to hold more capital.
There is speculation that if the Vickers report is too strict then Barclays could respond by moving its investment banking arm, Barclays Capital, overseas.
Mr Diamond's attempts to dissuade Mr Osborne from implementing the rules in the short term follow warnings from several pro-business campaigners that major banking changes could throw the economic recovery off course.
Angela Knight, chief executive of the British Banking Association, said earlier this week that "now is not the time" for reforms.
Other heads of British banks are expected to meet with Mr Osborne over the coming days prior to the publication of the Vickers report on September 12th.
Banking reform could yet prove a contentious issue for the coalition, with business secretary Vince Cable accusing bankers of being "disingenuous in the extreme" earlier in the week.
He added: "The uncertainty and instability in the markets makes it all the more necessary that we press ahead and make our banks safe and reform them."
However Mr Osborne is thought to be more sympathetic to the banks position and appears to have an ally in the prime minister, David Cameron, who warned against reforms which put the economy at risk.
Ms Knight said Britain faced a "very difficult autumn" which would only be made worse by news of long-term reform of the banking sector.
"We have a high degree of uncertainty, market turbulence and lack of confidence that governments in other countries have got a sufficient grip on their economies," she commented.
"This is therefore the time to concentrate on economic recovery and paying back... the government and taxpayers.
"By all means think about new regulation but now is not the time to add that as an overlay with respect to costs, uncertainty or whether it is going to do anything beneficial anyway."
John Cridland, head of the Confederation of British Industry, cautioned that any major shake-up of banks at a time of economic uncertainty was "barking mad".
He told the Financial Times newspaper: "Taking action at this moment – this moment of growth peril, which weakens the ability of banks in Britain to provide the finance that businesses need to grow – is just to me barking mad.
"We don't want to force some of our remaining world class British companies to shift away from a focus on the UK because the rules have been set unilaterally in the UK.
"There's an own goal here about to be scored if we get this wrong."
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Osborne Met News Corp Chiefs 16 Times
Chancellor George Osborne has had 16 separate meetings with executives from Rupert Murdoch's companies since last May's election, new data shows.
Labour leader Ed Miliband had 15 meetings or social contacts with News International executives over the same period, while PM David Cameron had 26.
Mr Cameron has ordered all ministerial meetings with media proprietors, senior editors and executives to be published.
It comes amid fears politicians have become too close to the Murdoch empire.
Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg had already published a list of their meetings with media executives last week.
It followed new allegations about phone hacking at the News of the World which prompted News Corporation to close the newspaper, withdraw its bid to fully take over BSkyB and the government to set up a judge-led inquiry into events.
Six dinners
On Tuesday the Cabinet Office published its quarterly list of ministers' gifts, hospitality and overseas trips - but has also included for the first time cabinet ministers' meetings with media organisations, dating back to May 2010.
Mr Osborne had 16 meetings with News Corporation executives out of a total of 54 media executive meetings, Mr Miliband had 15 meetings with the company out of 48 and Mr Cameron 26 out of 75 - including events organised by the company, like the Sun's military awards reception.
The chancellor's meetings included one with the then News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and James Murdoch, the head of News Corp's Europe and Asia businesses, in May 2010, shortly after the general election.
He also met Rupert Murdoch separately that month and again in December 2010 in meetings described as "general discussion".
Labour MP John Mann said Mr Osborne should disclose details of what Mr Osborne talked about: "In particular we need to know the details of his December 2010 meetings and exactly what was said about the BSkyB bid."
Mr Osborne may have had more meetings with News International executives but his cabinet colleague Michael Gove appears to have had more dinners with Rupert Murdoch.
The education secretary, a former Times journalist, listed at least 13 meetings at which News International executives were present, including six meals at which Rupert Murdoch was present - twice in June this year, at the height of the phone-hacking scandal.
Mr Gove's Labour shadow, Andy Burnham, said it showed the education secretary had "got his priorities seriously wrong".
But a spokesman for Mr Gove said: "Michael worked for the BBC and News International and his wife works for News International now.
"He's known Rupert Murdoch for over a decade. He did not discuss the BSkyB deal with the Murdochs and isn't at all embarrassed about his meetings, most of which have been about education."
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has met Rupert Murdoch twice socially since the general election, in May 2010 at an evening reception and Mr Murdoch was present at a speech he gave in October 2010.
He met James Murdoch, three times, Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of News International, once and met BBC director general Mark Thompson seven times.
In December, Business Secretary Vince Cable was stripped of his powers to rule on News Corporation's bid to fully take over BSkyB - after he was recorded by undercover reporters saying he had "declared war" on Rupert Murdoch.
The responsibility was then handed to Mr Hunt - two of his meetings with James Murdoch took place the month after, in January 2011, and are described as being held to "set out the process around the proposed BSkyB/News Corp merger".
Shadow ministers
Sources close to the culture secretary say the minutes of those meetings will be published in the coming weeks.
Minutes of a meeting with media groups opposed to the News Corp bid will also be published.
Mr Cable did not meet Rupert or James Murdoch - but has listed a meeting with Times editor James Harding in his list, and a Sunday Times business lunch as well as meetings with Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre and Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger.
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke - whose plans to reduce the prison population saw him heavily criticised in the tabloid press - met only one News International executive over the year - Sun editor Dominic Mohan. But he met Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre four times, the BBC twice and ITN.
The Labour Party says it will publish a list of meetings between shadow ministers and media organisations.
Labour leader Ed Miliband had 15 meetings or social contacts with News International executives over the same period, while PM David Cameron had 26.
Mr Cameron has ordered all ministerial meetings with media proprietors, senior editors and executives to be published.
It comes amid fears politicians have become too close to the Murdoch empire.
Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg had already published a list of their meetings with media executives last week.
It followed new allegations about phone hacking at the News of the World which prompted News Corporation to close the newspaper, withdraw its bid to fully take over BSkyB and the government to set up a judge-led inquiry into events.
Six dinners
On Tuesday the Cabinet Office published its quarterly list of ministers' gifts, hospitality and overseas trips - but has also included for the first time cabinet ministers' meetings with media organisations, dating back to May 2010.
Mr Osborne had 16 meetings with News Corporation executives out of a total of 54 media executive meetings, Mr Miliband had 15 meetings with the company out of 48 and Mr Cameron 26 out of 75 - including events organised by the company, like the Sun's military awards reception.
The chancellor's meetings included one with the then News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and James Murdoch, the head of News Corp's Europe and Asia businesses, in May 2010, shortly after the general election.
He also met Rupert Murdoch separately that month and again in December 2010 in meetings described as "general discussion".
Labour MP John Mann said Mr Osborne should disclose details of what Mr Osborne talked about: "In particular we need to know the details of his December 2010 meetings and exactly what was said about the BSkyB bid."
Mr Osborne may have had more meetings with News International executives but his cabinet colleague Michael Gove appears to have had more dinners with Rupert Murdoch.
The education secretary, a former Times journalist, listed at least 13 meetings at which News International executives were present, including six meals at which Rupert Murdoch was present - twice in June this year, at the height of the phone-hacking scandal.
Mr Gove's Labour shadow, Andy Burnham, said it showed the education secretary had "got his priorities seriously wrong".
But a spokesman for Mr Gove said: "Michael worked for the BBC and News International and his wife works for News International now.
"He's known Rupert Murdoch for over a decade. He did not discuss the BSkyB deal with the Murdochs and isn't at all embarrassed about his meetings, most of which have been about education."
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has met Rupert Murdoch twice socially since the general election, in May 2010 at an evening reception and Mr Murdoch was present at a speech he gave in October 2010.
He met James Murdoch, three times, Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of News International, once and met BBC director general Mark Thompson seven times.
In December, Business Secretary Vince Cable was stripped of his powers to rule on News Corporation's bid to fully take over BSkyB - after he was recorded by undercover reporters saying he had "declared war" on Rupert Murdoch.
The responsibility was then handed to Mr Hunt - two of his meetings with James Murdoch took place the month after, in January 2011, and are described as being held to "set out the process around the proposed BSkyB/News Corp merger".
Shadow ministers
Sources close to the culture secretary say the minutes of those meetings will be published in the coming weeks.
Minutes of a meeting with media groups opposed to the News Corp bid will also be published.
Mr Cable did not meet Rupert or James Murdoch - but has listed a meeting with Times editor James Harding in his list, and a Sunday Times business lunch as well as meetings with Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre and Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger.
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke - whose plans to reduce the prison population saw him heavily criticised in the tabloid press - met only one News International executive over the year - Sun editor Dominic Mohan. But he met Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre four times, the BBC twice and ITN.
The Labour Party says it will publish a list of meetings between shadow ministers and media organisations.
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