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Original poster

Osborne backs Lagarde for IMF chief

33 replies

longfingernails · 21/05/2011 22:23

Christine Lagarde is a very accomplished and well-regarded economist - I am thrilled in our Chancellor's judgement. The only negative is that she is French - but she is an avowed Anglophile, so I think we can let that go :o

Just imagine the horror if Gordon Brown got his mitts anywhere near!

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hudspur · 21/05/2011 22:30

I think Lagarde will probably get the job and I think she is probably the best candidate. I think its good that it is someone from the eurozone as that area is facing great fiscal problems and is very important to the global economy as a whole so we need someone with a good knowledge of the area which Lagarde has.

Original poster
longfingernails · 21/05/2011 22:36

Her support for the euro is the only serious negative she has - but is inevitable with more or less any Euro candidate.

She is a passionate believer in deficit reduction, though - something that is essential for the world economy. Governments have to stop thinking of debt as an easy option. They can't raise taxes in most developed countries - so the solution is obvious. Cut public spending, and become more fiscally conservative countries.

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hudspur · 21/05/2011 22:40

Why is her support for the euro a bad thing? Whatever your opinion on the single currency, influencing what currency a country uses is way beyond the IMFs remit.

Scarletbanner · 21/05/2011 22:42

Even if Gordon Brown had been the best candidate in the entire Universe, there was never a hope in hell of him getting the nod from Osborne and Cameron. Spiteful doesn't come close.

It would be nice to see a woman in such an important job.

Original poster
longfingernails · 21/05/2011 22:47

Scarletbanner Would Gordon Brown back Osborne? Of course not. Stop spouting nonsense.

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hudspur · 21/05/2011 22:49

Having watched Browns speech at Bretton Woods a few weeks ago, I think there might be a place for him at the World Bank but I don't think he's suitable for the IMF job.

edam · 21/05/2011 22:50

Cameron was spiteful and petty when he launched his attack on Gordon Brown the other week. Not statesmanlike at all. He's not obliged to back Gordon for the job, but it's pathetic to be so nasty with it.

Scarletbanner · 21/05/2011 22:52

edam, exactly. No dignity.

FunnysInTheGarden · 21/05/2011 22:53

I was the other day while listening to R4 on the way home. They were announcing all of the runners for head of the IMF and I was thinking I bet ole Georgie Osbourne isn't one, as they reeled off influential this and extremely bright that.........

I mean jesus, compare GB to GO and you've got to snort..........One political heavyweight and one big ninny.......

Original poster
longfingernails · 21/05/2011 22:57

Yes, I suppose Gordon is a ninny.

Osborne isn't a contender as he hasn't spent much time in public office - but if he keeps up his current good work, in 10 years time he will be a serious contender for one of the big international jobs.

Gordon Brown should stop thinking that anyone outside the far left actually likes him. Instead, he should start actually turning up to Parliament and doing his job - he can't even be bothered to turn up for important votes.

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edam · 21/05/2011 22:59

Osborne's a chinless wonder whose only qualification for office is that he's mates with Cameron and went to a posh school.

Original poster
longfingernails · 21/05/2011 23:03

Christine Lagarde certainly has a very warm opinion of Osborne, as does Timothy Geithner. He always strikes me as being remarkably intelligent.

However, unlike Cameron, he isn't a one-nation wet. He actually believes in Thatcherite ideas rather than soppy Cameroon One Nation fare. Cameron doesn't hate Labour and socialism in his gut, the way Thatcher did - but Osborne certainly does. He despises them. I adore him.

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Scarletbanner · 21/05/2011 23:03

I don't for a minute think that GB thinks or cares that anyone in the Tory party likes him. Although you may be aware that he is very good friends with Ming Campbell, who I would hardly put on the far left.

And ROFL at the thought of Osborne ever being a serious contender for a job like this. Ninny is a fabulous word for him - I don't use that word enough!

hudspur · 21/05/2011 23:04

Speculating whether Osborne would be a candidate for a major international job in 10 years is pointless, no one knows what will happen in the mean time.

FunnysInTheGarden · 21/05/2011 23:11

ahhh LFN so you are a Thatcherite. No wonder I like you so much........

Well said edam the only thing going for GO is his contacts list

Original poster
longfingernails · 21/05/2011 23:13

Thatcher was our greatest PM since Churchill.

But going back to Lagarde - it seems she is a shoe-in now, despite being French. I can't see any other candidate with the breadth of international support she has.

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FunnysInTheGarden · 21/05/2011 23:18

Thatcher was Britains biggest nightmare and destroyed our manufacturing base. It is insulting to Churchill to use them in the same sentence.

hudspur · 21/05/2011 23:19

I think Lagarde is favourite but China has said they would prefer a non-European so its not a shoe-in. Lagarde does have impressive credentials and should hopefully do a good job.

Original poster
longfingernails · 21/05/2011 23:48

Yes, but none of the big developing countries can agree on a single candidate. Lagarde doesn't have many enemies, as far as I can tell, except back in France - the socialists are predictably trying to smear her about some decision she made about resolving a socialist Mitterand-era scandal - and I am fairly confident she will win.

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hudspur · 22/05/2011 00:03

I agree and would be surprised if Lagarde didn't get it

claig · 22/05/2011 07:11

'I mean jesus, compare GB to GO and you've got to snort..........One political heavyweight and one big ninny.......'

I was never a fan of Gordon Brown, but I think describing him as a ninny is going too far.

claig · 22/05/2011 07:32

Misguided? - absolutely
Deluded? - Very possibly
Out of his depth? - most certainly

Big ninny? - debatable and probably a step too far. It is not evidence-based like the previous 3 descriptions.

claig · 22/05/2011 07:51

Progressive? - I think that goes without saying. While that is close to "big ninny", it is not quite the same.

Paul88 · 22/05/2011 10:32

Gordon Brown would be excellent at the IMF.

Every government in the world other than ours would support him: the US, Europe and the developing world.

Of course the tories couldn't allow it as it would be very hard to reconcile with the myth they have so successfully sold in this country that the whole global financial crisis was Gordon's fault - when in fact the work he did when it broke was and still is much respected the world over.

inappa · 22/05/2011 10:34

"Every government in the world other than ours would support him: the US, Europe and the developing world"

I don't think a single Government has backed him for the job. Its almost a certainity that Lagarde will get it.