You may ask what could have inspired me to write such a headline. Well, it’s none other than George himself.
As Iain Martin has blogged – twice, he found the Tory shadow chancellor’s state of denial so bizarre – George Osborne has issued a message to Tory supporters assuring them:
It’s been another great week for our campaign.”
Hmmm, and “Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?”
But then it’s not been a good day for George, having already launched friendly fire against Boris Johnson by attacking the Tory London mayor’s own policy of an amnesty for illegal immigrants.
‘How can [the Lib Dems] control immigration by giving an amnesty for illegal immigrants?’ asks George, as the Tories search desperately for ways to blunt the Lib Dems’ advance.
The Lib Dems propose a route to earned citizenship where people would have to have lived in this country for 10 years, have a clean record, speak English and want to live here long-term. In contrast, Boris Johnson would offer an amnesty to people who had been here for just five years, as he has written himself:
Should we have a mass programme of expulsions, because that hasn’t worked: it’s legally incredibly difficult, (and) it’s expensive for the state, or should we see if we can develop a sensible system of earned amnesty, so after a substantial period of time – and I would say more than five years – you can, in principle demonstrate your commitment to this society and to this economy. And you can earn your right to stay here.”
Can I just say: I agree with Boris.
Its no wonder the Tories do their best to keep George Osborne out of the limelight as much of the time as possible.
New post: It’s been another great week for George Osborne http://bit.ly/b6e5yV