Discussion
Biker 1 said:
That's really a shame - I rather liked him.
91 not to be sniffed at!
RIP
A good age. There are one or two entertaining video clips of him grilling various individuals when he was chairing committees or otherwise participating (economic affairs, eu financial affairs, public accounts, commission on banking standards).91 not to be sniffed at!
RIP
An immense (less literally so in the last couple of decades) figure. Genuinely added think tank thought detail to the broad brush approach of Thatcher and Joseph.
Made an error re shadowing the DM in prep for joining the ERM which he later regretted and subsequently swung behind the leave movement. Combined with his funding of the GWPF he became an immensely divisive figure but I for one always believed he let his intellect lead him to policy positions and not driven by ideology. A hugely impressive figure not least to be not overshadowed by Thatcher.
A great loss but at a great age.
Made an error re shadowing the DM in prep for joining the ERM which he later regretted and subsequently swung behind the leave movement. Combined with his funding of the GWPF he became an immensely divisive figure but I for one always believed he let his intellect lead him to policy positions and not driven by ideology. A hugely impressive figure not least to be not overshadowed by Thatcher.
A great loss but at a great age.
Edited by Ridgemont on Tuesday 4th April 08:14
In terms of his impact, was there a better chancellor? his bravery in policy and the transformation it helped create lasted for decades.
from the spectator, he laid out his stall in 1967.
"It is abundantly clear that, quite apart from the inhibitions it shares with the Conservatives, but more so (such as the need to placate overseas bankers), the Labour party is prevented from a total commitment to policies of economic growth by, as I have already mentioned, its obsession with the particular shape that that growth takes, as well as by considerations of so-called ‘social justice,’ by a desire to weaken certain institutions and classes and groups of men who play a large part in maintaining economic expansion and by an egalitarianism too often prompted by envy."
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/nigel-lawson-1...
from the spectator, he laid out his stall in 1967.
"It is abundantly clear that, quite apart from the inhibitions it shares with the Conservatives, but more so (such as the need to placate overseas bankers), the Labour party is prevented from a total commitment to policies of economic growth by, as I have already mentioned, its obsession with the particular shape that that growth takes, as well as by considerations of so-called ‘social justice,’ by a desire to weaken certain institutions and classes and groups of men who play a large part in maintaining economic expansion and by an egalitarianism too often prompted by envy."
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/nigel-lawson-1...
Ridgemont said:
An immense (less literally so in the last couple of decades) figure. Genuinely added think tank thought detail to the broad brush approach of Thatcher and Joseph.
Made an error re shadowing the DM in prep for joining the SM which he later regretted and subsequently swung behind the leave movement. Combined with his funding of the GWPF he became an immensely divisive figure but I for one always believed he let his intellect lead him to policy positions and not driven by ideology. A hugely impressive figure not least to be not overshadowed by Thatcher.
A great loss but at a great age.
I think he actually was driven by a strong ideological belief in free markets and individual liberty. It seems that compromising on this to take us into the ERM haunted him afterwards. Made an error re shadowing the DM in prep for joining the SM which he later regretted and subsequently swung behind the leave movement. Combined with his funding of the GWPF he became an immensely divisive figure but I for one always believed he let his intellect lead him to policy positions and not driven by ideology. A hugely impressive figure not least to be not overshadowed by Thatcher.
A great loss but at a great age.
RIP
Could almost say that piece, all over again, right now.
He was a decent enough chancellor, although the idea of keeping rates low, for sterling to track the DM led to an inevitable bout of inflation. That episode and the ERM debacle paved the way for a very painful period for many as rates rose. I bought my first house on the back of the resultant crash and I've never before or since seen such a choice of affordable property in decent areas.
Much of that was out of his hands and I think overall he was a decent politician.
He was a decent enough chancellor, although the idea of keeping rates low, for sterling to track the DM led to an inevitable bout of inflation. That episode and the ERM debacle paved the way for a very painful period for many as rates rose. I bought my first house on the back of the resultant crash and I've never before or since seen such a choice of affordable property in decent areas.
Much of that was out of his hands and I think overall he was a decent politician.
Digga said:
Could almost say that piece, all over again, right now.
He was a decent enough chancellor, although the idea of keeping rates low, for sterling to track the DM led to an inevitable bout of inflation. That episode and the ERM debacle paved the way for a very painful period for many as rates rose. I bought my first house on the back of the resultant crash and I've never before or since seen such a choice of affordable property in decent areas.
Much of that was out of his hands and I think overall he was a decent politician.
I was under the impression that rates rose in order to maintain currency comparisons whilst in the ERM. Ie rates had to rise to track against the DM due to higher rates in Germany to combat the inflationary effects of their reunification spending. He was a decent enough chancellor, although the idea of keeping rates low, for sterling to track the DM led to an inevitable bout of inflation. That episode and the ERM debacle paved the way for a very painful period for many as rates rose. I bought my first house on the back of the resultant crash and I've never before or since seen such a choice of affordable property in decent areas.
Much of that was out of his hands and I think overall he was a decent politician.
ETA
..and whilst painful at the time, it was the best money spent to remind people of the stupidity of trying to fix exchange rates and single currencies.
Edited by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tuesday 4th April 08:27
S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
Good point, forgot to mention his daughter. Always quite enjoyed her cookery shows.S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
Loony views on climate change ?? I think you are getting him mixed up with someone else?
Ivan stewart said:
S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
Loony views on climate change ?? I think you are getting him mixed up with someone else?Ivan stewart said:
S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
Loony views on climate change ?? I think you are getting him mixed up with someone else?S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
It's interesting that it's his opinions in one area that dent his credibility, rather than taking pause for thought in why someone whose views were credible (by extension) felt the way he did on that topic.
S600BSB said:
Ivan stewart said:
S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
Loony views on climate change ?? I think you are getting him mixed up with someone else?He was a rubbish chancellor and lived his latter days devoted to spreading misinformation
S600BSB said:
Ivan stewart said:
S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
Loony views on climate change ?? I think you are getting him mixed up with someone else?Even despite the fact Big Bang Theory was quite well established, there were a team of cosmologists upstairs who profoundly disagreed, preferring Steady State theory instead. This led to some very interesting - if completely mind blowing - yet respectful discussions in tutorials.
I miss those days when you could take a slightly different view and not have some rabid lunatic call you a "denier" or some other such rubbish. That's progress I guess.
bodhi said:
S600BSB said:
Ivan stewart said:
S600BSB said:
He was certainly an interesting Chancellor, but his actions did lead to much higher interest rates and, ultimately, recession. More recently his loony views on climate change also impacted his credibility. Still, he played his part in giving us Nigella!
Loony views on climate change ?? I think you are getting him mixed up with someone else?Even despite the fact Big Bang Theory was quite well established, there were a team of cosmologists upstairs who profoundly disagreed, preferring Steady State theory instead. This led to some very interesting - if completely mind blowing - yet respectful discussions in tutorials.
I miss those days when you could take a slightly different view and not have some rabid lunatic call you a "denier" or some other such rubbish. That's progress I guess.
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