In a follow-up effort to a post earlier this week on the Labour Treasury, I present to you the opposition and likely team to inherit a terrible mess in desperate need of sorting out.George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor - St. Paul's and History at Oxford. Very short time as a journalist before becoming a policy wonk for the next few years until he was elected as an MP. Only 37 years old too.
Not the person I would want in charge in desperate economic times really, as lacking in experience and qualifications as his opposites in the Labour camp. Perhaps a job swap with William Hague would be in order?
Philip Hammond Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury - Oxford PPE, I am reliably informed he was known there as "the tool for getting stones out of horses' hooves." Huge experience in business, mainly in private sector and also the world bank. Elected in 1997 and been a minister ever since more or less.
A great number two with plenty of experience to rely on, not the perhaps most charismatic and inspiring person to listen too, but great knowledge and understanding.
Justine Greening, Shadow Treasury Minister- An MBA and a finance Manager at Centrica (apparently still according to her website...). One of the few qualified accountants in Parliament.
Can't have any complaints here about experience or qualifications, bit young for a top job, but will come in time.
David Gauke, Shadow Treasury Minister - State schools and Oxford, then a career in City law for 10 years before being elected.
Apart from my personal predilection for banning all lawyers from parliament on the grounds of conflict of interest, he seems a useful member of the team with decent City experience.
Mark Hoban, Shadow Treasury Minister - LSE economics degree and then a long career at PWC. Can't see that he made partner (might be wrong?). Another qualified accountant. Been in Parliament since 1997.
Another person with good business experience and a long career behind him before joining parliament
Overall - Really, compare this list to the Labour team that I fisked earlier this week. It really is chalk and cheese, they are simply so much more experience and qualified to run the Treasury. How labour could keep a lead on running the economy? Only by pure spin. Only the leader of the team is lacking in experience, but with such strong support he might just be ok.
