George Osborne has tied a knot of fear and optimism – but is it unravelling? | Polly Toynbee
by Polly Toynbee from on (#ZXN7)
The chancellor says global storms justify a course of continued austerity. Yet he crows about British economic recovery. He needs to get his story straight
The chancellor teeters along a tightrope in a high wind. Weeks ago it was all glory and gloat: best ever, greatest success in EU and on track for his long term plan. But today in Cardiff he tips the other way: mission not accomplished, dangerous cocktail of threats and: "The biggest risk is that people think that it's 'job done'."
Which is it? What's up? There is truth (and some lies) in both postures. No one doubts the global storm, with China again suspending trading in its stock market after another precipitous fall, and jitters reverberating round the world.
Continue reading...