Let Greece be a lesson - Vote Tory! says George Osborne
Chancellor raises spectre of a vote for Labour being tantamount to backing Syriza’s ‘false hope’
George Osborne says the Greek election of a left-wing anti-austerity government should be seen as a warning to British voters thinking of backing Ed Miliband in the UK general election because it could lead to economic chaos.
It might be stretching credulity to breaking point, but the Chancellor told Radio 4’s Today programme that there was a lesson to be learned from the Greek elections for voters in the British elections - to stick with the current Tory/Lib Dem Coalition economic policies.
Osborne said higher public spending like the new Greek Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras (and Miliband) is promising was "a panacea, it is false hope".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
He dismissed the idea that the Greek elections showed that people are sick of austerity. “I think people get tired of economic failure,” said Osborne. “They get tired of rising unemployment and in the UK, returning to economic chaos would see higher unemployment. The lesson for us is to continue to work through the plan that is working.”
Osborne also heavily criticised the eurozone for failing to implement the structural reforms (such as making Europe more competitive, ie cutting workers' rights) that he reckons have helped to bring growth to the UK economy.
He also warned that Britain needs stability in Europe for its own exports to the EU and urged both sides to "show responsibility" in dealing with the Greeks.
Osborne is in Cornwall today banging the drum for the economy which David Cameron is hoping will give him victory on the central message - don't let Labour wreck it again.
It takes a general election for the Chancellor to get down and gritty with a crab fisherman. He tweeted this morning: "Started day in Newquay with Cornish fisherman Phil who's been crab fishing here for 40 years."
Cameron is also due today to commit the Tories to further tax cuts if they are re-elected. The Guardian reports that he will say the general election represents a great "tax moment” and that he is "passionate" about tax cuts because "it's your money" and "a reward for years of sacrifice" under the Tories' austerity measures.
Ed Balls, the Labour shadow chancellor, and Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, both say phooey - it is irresponsible to be offering tax cuts while the British economy is still in the mire and we’re struggling to deal with rising youth unemployment, the embattled NHS and the growing burden of the increasingly elderly population.
Cameron, however, is clearly focusing on the middle-class Tories who are threatening to vote Ukip. Tax cuts worked under Thatcher and the Tories are counting on it working again. There could not be a starker contrast with what is on offer in Athens.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How Harris and Trump differ on education
The Explainer Trump wants to disband the Department of Education. Harris wants to boost teacher pay.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How to minimize capital gains tax on investments
The Explainer It can take a chunk out of your profits
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: November 4, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
David Cameron resigns as Sunak names shadow cabinet
Speed Read New foreign secretary joins 12 shadow ministers brought in to fill vacancies after electoral decimation
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published