Once again, hypocritical, deregulation-loving Osborne attacks Labour over bank regulation

Green Politics

George Osborne again sought to lay the blame for the banking scandal at Labour's door today for lack of regulation - yet he had called for more deregulation.

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George Osborne again sought to lay the blame for the banking scandal at Labour’s door today for the party’s lack of regulation when in government – the same George Osborne who repeatedly called for Labour to deregulate further.

George-OsborneThe chancellor told this morning’s Today Programme:

“I think it’s a very, very different era from a few years ago, I don’t think, actually, the Bob Diamonds of this world would have resigned four or five years ago, so, the world has moved on, the culture has changed, and the government has been part of changing that culture, but frankly, it has been driven by an overwhelming anger amongst the British people at this age of irresponsibility, irresponsibility in the banks and frankly a complete failure to regulate those banks that led to the crisis.”

Here’s a reminder of what the then shadow chancellor and his colleagues said whan Labour was in power, and, indeed, failing to regulate properly:

“I fear that much of this regulation has been burdensome, complex and makes cross-border market penetration more difficult.

“This is exactly the wrong direction in which Europe should be heading and it threatens the global competitiveness of the City of London.”

– George Osborne, 2006

“In an age of greater choice, he offers more overbearing control; in an age of greater freedom, he gives us more interference…

“In short, in an age that demands a light touch, he [Gordon Brown] offers that clunking fist.”

– George Osborne, 2006

“I want to give you [The City] lower taxes and less regulation.”

– David Cameron, 2006

“Light-touch… regulation is in the interests of the sector globally and the government need to send that message more strongly.”

– Mark Hoban, 2006

 

See also:

• Arrogant Osborne still refusing full banking inquiry – even as Diamond resigns 3 Jul 2012

• Miliband redirects Barclays rage to Cameron over PM’s inaction 30 Jun 2012

• After the Barclays Libor scandal, how long must we wait for a public inquiry? 29 Jun 2012

• George “regulation was too burdensome” Osborne attacks Labour for being too lax 28 Jun 2012

• Miliband: Time for prosecutions, proper regulation and an end to the “casino culture” 28 Jun 2012

 

George Osborne: The man with the memory of a goldfish.

 

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38 Responses to “Once again, hypocritical, deregulation-loving Osborne attacks Labour over bank regulation”

  1. Mark Gorman

    Swore at the radio whilst walking dog this morning. Here's why: George Osborne: The man with the memory of a goldfish http://t.co/52CMnVyt

  2. Anonymous

    Sure, and it’d be whining then too.

  3. Shamik Das

    Once again, hypocritical, deregulation-loving Osborne attacks Labour over bank regulation: http://t.co/x5Vokeas by @ShamikDas #Libor

  4. Blarg1987

    In that case we would also have to blame people in Thatchers premiership who started the whole deregulation of the city in the first place and hold them to account.
    Yes I agree Balls and Brown are partially responsible but so are the Conservatives, if they said at the time their needs to be more regulation as we are concerned about the impact of the city then there may have been a change or if not at least the Conservatives would have gained more respect now then they currently have.

  5. Kevin Richards

    Make your mind up George -Once again, hypocritical, deregulation-loving Osborne attacks Labour over bank regulation http://t.co/0DgXTe3p

Comments are closed.