George Osbourne

[BertiWooster]

What exactly is this story about the above and alleged procurement of a donation from a russian Business ?

Caught something briefly on the news , while out at lunch earlier

[Gromit]

He is said to have asked for a donation from Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oil billionaire.

Nothing wrong with that you may think, except the Tories have been trying to smear Peter Mandlelson by linking him to the same Russian.

It either highlights the shadow cabinet's ineptitude or its hypocracy, take your pick.

[BertiWooster]

Thanks

[Davethedog]

Just proves the old adage:

How do you know when a politician is lying - He opens his mouth..

[BertiWooster]

If it is true , then hypocrosy is certainly an apt description .

It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds , as in the past stories like these tended no to go away for quite a while .

Anyway , hasn't he brouht this on himself and the Tories , for attempting to smear the Prince of Darkness ?

[Gromit]

"Nathaniel Rothschild, a financier, who arranged the meeting, has alleged that Mr Osborne and Mr Feldman sought to solicit a donation to the Conservatives from the Russian businessman.

In a letter made public this morning he alleged that the possibility of a �50,000 gift to the Tories was discussed
Mr Deripaska, one of the world's richest men, is a foreign national who is therefore not permitted to donate money to British political parties and he is alleged to have been advised to give the money via a British firm he owns.

Such an arrangement may fall foul of electoral laws and would lead to accusations that the Conservatives had behaved unethically."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/pol itics/conservative/3234385/George-Osborne-side steps-claims-that-donation-from-oligarch-Oleg- Deripaska-was-discussed.html

[jno]

Osborne denies it, and he should know, shouldn't he?

[kempie]

Indeed "may fall foul" highlights how grey and murky are the rules for political donations (just as others of the self-imposed, self-regulated rules "governing" politicians and their parties prove to be).

However, to compare and contrast allegations, is this "perhaps" infraction really on the same par as that of European Trade Commissioner Mandelson signing off rule changes that benefited Derispaka's businesses months after dining together in Moscow (again in the company of Rothschild)?

[BertiWooster]

Well - how many politicians have denied wrong doing over the years , and the accusations turned out to be true .

If it is true, he is hardly going to hold his hand up , at this early point in time - is he

[jno]

that's true, Berti, I was writing with my tongue ever so slightly in my cheek. His denial was pretty explicit; but of course sometimes these meetings just put out feelers without ever mentioning the word 'cash'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7681464 .stm

[jake-the-peg]

It's what he hasn't denied

He denies it but he hasn't denied suggesting to one of the Tory fund raisers (Feldman) that the Russian would like to make a decision.

Politicians don't actually lie all that much - too much risk of being caught later.

They much prefer not to tell the whole story.

[BertiWooster]

Economical with the acutality , i believe is the phrase

[jake-the-peg]

Well that was Alan Clarke being pretentious.

Sir Robert Armstrong, (not a politician but the Cabinet secretary) said Economical with the truth over Spycatcher in the 80s

[Gromit]

Nice picture of George Osborne and Nat Rothchild

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics /article4985718.ece

[VINNY100_2]

George osbourne should have kept his mouth shut about mandelsons private conversation with him.Not to be trusted..is mr osbourne..!well he is a tory.and nat rothschild is pi$$ed of with him,.and has given mr mandleson a perfect birthday present.This does not look good for the Tories.!

[BertiWooster]

Dont you just like the demeanour of the one, third from the left , with hand on hips .

What would you put in a speech bubble , coming from him ?

How about - ' there are no poor people in this club , dont you know '

[jake-the-peg]

Much as I hate to say "I told you so": (OK that's a fib)

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question64 0896.html

[jno]

in that photo, I'm impressed by the looks of "Mark Petre, son of 18th Century Baron Petre", as the story describes him. He must be 200 if he's a day. I suppose it's the cocaine that keeps the wrinkles at bay.

[BillySugger]

Kill them!

[Quinlad]

jno, given that the photo also shows 'Peter Holmes a Court' and 'Lupus von Matzahn', I wouldn't be surprised if '18th Century Baron Petre' was just his dad's name.

[Oneeyedvic]

Much as I hate to say "I told you so": (OK that's a fib)

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question64 0896.html

Erm, what did you 'tell' us? That Osbourne had a history degree and that you didn't feel that he had the necessary qualifications to run the country?

What has that got to do with the question in hand?

Don't recall you saying anything about him lying of meeting with Russian business men.