not at all.
The opposite. Most chancellors, even those economically qualified and skilled, take their advice from the Treasury. Osborne refuses to on a number of key issues because "he and the conservative party know better"

So not only can he, economically, not find his arse with both hands, but he refuses to take advice from the people who are specifically employed and ideally skilled to offer him an arse-map and some hand sat-navs.

It's a big part of the reason my missus chose to leave the treasu.... but I'm not supposed to talk about that
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:50, 2 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

well yer, there has to be some 'steerage' on where they're going. But if George wholesale refused to follow their lead there'd bee a lot more leaks on what a fucking prick he is

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:52, Reply)

How many leaks do you need?
Remember the budget before last?
(PsychoChomp, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:53, Reply)

What're you, some kind of Welsh vegetable dealer now are you?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:55, Reply)

IM SORRY BUT I DONT READ THE LIES IN THE GUARDIAN

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:58, Reply)

You don't need to leak what is common knowledge.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:54, Reply)

I'd just like to leak that you are a fucking WOMAD Kershaw yurt prick.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:55, Reply)

www.b3ta.com/questions/offtopic/post1923842
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:58, Reply)

Essentially the treasury have to do what they are told
so, Osborne and his team say what they want. The treasury tell them it's idiotic. They ask for it anyway, and the treasury have to work out a way to do it.

Most chancellors defer to the treasury on most things, except key pre-election promises, but obviously the treasury are geared up for that, as in the run-up to elections they work out how the key policies of all the parties would work, just in case they get elected.

Osborne defers on very little, but the treasury's hands are essentially tied. Ultimate decision rests with the chancellor, which is why having a chancellor who is both an economic idiot and unspeakably arrogant is a really, really, fucking bad idea. The fact he's Tory is really neither here nor there, this is apolitical. It's the fact he's George Osborne that is the major problem.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:58, Reply)

yeah, but he runs a very successful family business. he's got a proven track record, he's not just a career prick in the treasury

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 10:03, Reply)

yeah but he's just saved us from a triple dip recession so it's all good yeah?

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:54, Reply)

So he's so incompetent it's taken him three goes to massage the figures so they're no longer negative?

(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:58, Reply)

would you rather someone gave up at the first sign of trouble?

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 10:01, Reply)

I'd prefer him to think further than the next election
but no politician ever does that, or what's in the country's best interests.
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 10:05, Reply)

To be fair, he doesn't massage the figures so much as ignores them.
The figures are produced independently.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 10:03, Reply)

To be even fairer, shut up, no-one cares about your worthless vegetarian opinons

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 10:09, Reply)

Gaz me for recipe tips, yeah?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 10:11, Reply)

Put on a black coat and go and lie on the M4 at midnight, yeah?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 5 Apr 2013, 10:13, Reply)