MPs warn buy-to-let tax measures risk damaging whole economy

Mark, this document is a great find.

Osborne's PR machine is simply not powerful enough to alter the inevitabilities of mathematics and cause and effect.

Now thankfully, members of his own party are seeing through the spin, realising the reality that Osborne's policies will create for the Tories and the country.

The man is a short-term opportunist and long-term troublemaker.

I'm wondering if anyone has access to this article:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/redbox/topic/tory-policies/georges-marvellous-meddling

With these parralel developments...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/12154770/retirement-crisis-pensions-tax-raid.html

... No wonder landlords can't afford not to fight for their property businesses.

First came the Omni-shambles budget, now the Tenant- tax Tornado, it is hard not to laugh, we have a Chancellor who can't count, a Prime Minister who can't negotiate and a Governor of the Bank of England who doesn't understand capitalism. Where can we turn I wonder?

Reply to the comment left by "Michael Holmes" at "13/02/2016 - 12:57":

Perhaps it is the Cross Party Treasury Committee that should be in charge of the economy rather than George 'Captain Clueless' Osborne. Thank goodness for Andrew Tyrie and his committee - perhaps there is hope after all? (Won't be holding my breath tho'!!!)

Reply to the comment left by "Michael Holmes" at "13/02/2016 - 12:57":

For the first time I am completely unsure with which political party to place my vote.

UKIP? If not for their policies, for the shake up it would give the incumbents and the embarrassment factor...

UKIP always appealed to me as back up to the Conservatives.

I see there's a vote of no confidence petition for Jeremy Hunt currently at 200,000 signatures.

Can we have one for Osborne? Think how many would sign!!

Carney is a g s apparatchik he left Canada before

Reply to the comment left by "Gareth Wilson" at "12/02/2016 - 23:23":

Hi Gareth

This is the article. Not much of direct interest beyond the headline:

George’s marvellous meddling
Is George Osborne over-reaching himself? Speaking to Tory MPs in recent days, it is a common theme.

The chancellor’s dominant position as the frontrunner to be next Tory leader is wearing a bit thin already.

Today Sam Coates reports in The Times that Osborne has seized control of a campaign budget worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

Leaked documents reveal plans to slash the communications budgets of Whitehall departments and put funds into a central pot controlled by the chancellor and prime minister.

One Whitehall source said: “George is becoming more and more like Gordon Brown every day.”

And we all know how much Osborne enjoys those comparisons.

As Sam reports in the paper:

The Cabinet Office presentation shows the chancellor alongside David Cameron at the top of a flowchart setting out responsibility for making decisions about the fund. This has provoked claims of a power grab.

Until now the Cabinet Office rather than Treasury worked alongside Downing Street on communication strategy.

Senior Tory figures fear the move will enable Mr Osborne to promote pet projects, such as the Northern Powerhouse, at the expense of existing campaigns, including those overseen by leadership rivals.

These could include the Home Office’s domestic abuse campaign and the Department for Communities and Local Government’s “fire kills” publicity drive.

The budgets for the 80 campaigns, costing about £300 million a year, are the responsibility of individual government departments.

Osborne’s attempt to dominate Whitehall is exposed by the leak of a 12-page presentation, dated February 3, and entitled the Single Government Communications Campaign Budget.

Reply to the comment left by "Jonathan James" at "15/02/2016 - 15:46":

Thank you for digging this one out Jonathan. I was looking forward to reading this particular article.