Osborne backs Lagarde for IMF chief

[longfingernails]

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!

They would have backed him (apart from countries who have their own candidates) and were ready to back him until our present government launched a spiteful, petty outburst against him. It's not the done thing to back someone who isn't supported by their own government.

Paul's right, GB is respected across the world for his leadership during the crisis, which encouraged leaders not to get into the sort protectionism that was so devastating during the last crash. The other candidates for the top job were all key players in the run up to the crisis as well - so the myth that Gordon Brown is somehow uniquely tarnished by having been in charge during the boom years is clearly rubbish.

I'm not personally bothered whether GB gets the job or not, and I have plenty of criticisms of him. But some of the accusations against him in connection with this role are just unfair and untrue.

I don't know really, I don't think he is the right man for the IMF to be honest. The IMF warned him about the countrys fiscal position and direction in 2004 and he totally ignored them and the fiscal situation he left although not as bad as some make out, it was pretty dire.

"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"

Really Paul? - I have never seen that 'myth' anywhere - and I've read my share of right wing press and blog posts.

Many blame Gordon Brown for making the UK economy vulnerable to a global recession - by not sufficiently regulating the banks, over-encouraging immigration, and borrowing through an economic boom.

Lol - at the idea of Cameron supporting Gordon Brown for the IMF job. I can't think of one reason he would, especially as most of his narrative is about cleaning up the economic mess Brown left us in.

edam - Cameron's not being spiteful - he's being rational.

Oh God, GB never stood an earthly...

As a long standing member of the Labour party, my main critisism of GB was and remains his complete lack of acceptance of his own limitations.

Everyone has been saying that he wouldn't tsand a chance, yet he wouldn't listen. It has been the same all along. He won't accept criticism. He won't take advice.

Brown had no chance because he was fiscally irresponsible during his time in office so he could hardly go round telling other countries to get their public finances in order considering his track record.

jackstarb - Cameron and Osborne are indeed being spiteful - see Cameron's comments on the Today programme. It is one thing for them to decide not to back Brown - that's a valid choice although seems like petty revenge ? but it's quite another for the Prime Minister, FFS, to indulge in outbursts worthy of a stroppy teenager.

Edam - I missed that bit, unless you mean the racing tip? It was a valid choice for Cameron not to support Brown - he would have looked a weak fool, if he had.

If Brown is interested in a top job in some global NGO - he needs to win around more than Cameron. He's better start with all the enemies he made in his own party and work up.

Oh, before the racing tip, he made some very un-prime ministerial comments about Brown. Ill-advised.

But yes, Brown made a heap of enemies on his way up. People are usually more forgiving once someone has stepped down, though.