Internal emails reveal Tory spending split

Last Modified: 01 Mar 2007
By: Cathy Newman

Channel 4 News has obtained a series of emails the shadow chancellor George Osborne sent his staff.

Meet the Iron Shadow Chancellor. After weeks on the defensive about Conservative promises on public spending and tax cuts, George Osborne has decided to get a grip.

He told an audience in the city that in future all spending commitments will have to be cleared by him or the Conservative leader. And there'll be no pledge to reduce the overall burden of taxation at the next election.

I've just been asked about it on Sky Sunday and was quite firm. G
George Osbourne in email to staff

George Osborne is in no doubt that to convince the city he needs to convince his colleagues to stop making spending commitments they might not be able to afford.

Hands off my piggy bank is his message. The Tories haven't been able to resist floating potentially costly promises on everything from defence spending to tax breaks for married couples.

Channel 4 News has obtained a series of emails between George Osborne and his staff as he battles to control his party's spending commitments.

From: Rohan Silva [Osbourne aid]

Sent: 25 February 2007 00:04
To: OSBORNE, George; HANCOCK, Matthew; HARRISON, Rupert; SILVA, Rohan
Subject: Labour in opposition - controlling spending commitments

[Gordon Brown primarily relied on the force of his personality as well as leaks, threats, counter-briefings and pre-emptive policy announcements to maintain spending discipline amongst colleagues.

From: "OSBORNE, George" <OSBORNEG@parliament.uk>

Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:33:02
To:"Rohan Silva" , "HANCOCK, Matthew" HANCOCKMJ@parliament.uk>, "HARRISON, Rupert" , "SILVA, Rohan"
Subject: RE: Labour in opposition - controlling spending commitments

Thanks. I've just been asked about it on Sky Sunday and was quite firm. G

From: HANCOCK, Matthew [Osbournes' chief of staff]

Sent: 25 February 2007 09:45:35
To: OSBORNE, George; Rohan Silva; HANCOCK, Matthew; HARRISON, Rupert; SILVA, Rohan
Subject: Re: Labour in opposition - controlling spending commitments

We do have a system of sorts - which we are improving.... [Labour] will always be able to put together a dodgy dossier of 'commitments' - which will include all sorts of things like housing. And I doubt they will stop including it in their briefing to broadcasters when George is on. We need to be in a position to rebut.

The Tories would need up to £2bn a year in the piggy bank to restore tax breaks for married couples - a promise apparently made by David Cameron almost a fortnight ago.

But Tony Blair has accused the Tory leader of watering down that pledge. The Conservatives now say that although they're committed in principle to helping couples through the tax system, there's no specific policy.

Senior Conservatives are surprised it has taken George Osborne so long to stop his colleagues raiding his piggy bank. Although the Tories have now been in opposition for nearly a decade, they've still not learnt the ruthless discipline instilled in the Labour party by Gordon Brown.