Quotes by George Osborne

“Taxes have gone up, spending has gone up, waste of government money has vastly increased, and I think people will say he frittered away a very strong economic inheritance.”

“Working in the Major government, we all saw, pretty close at hand - perhaps closer than a junior minister - the problems that the party was facing, ... Those who learned the lessons, and those who didnt. I did. I still for the life of me cant work out why Blair and Brown didnt. The euro would be like an ERM that we couldnt even leave.”

“The allegations are completely untrue, and dredging up a photo from when I was 22 years old is pretty desperate stuff, ... This is merely part of an absurd smear campaign to divert attention from the issues that matter in this leadership contest.”

“The allegations are completely untrue, and dredging up a photo from when I was 22 years old is pretty desperate stuff. This is merely part of an absurd smear campaign to divert attention from the issues that matter in this leadership contest.”

“Falling investment and poor productivity threaten Britains long-term economic growth and competitiveness in the new global economy.”

“Gordon Browns lack of fiscal responsibility will damage our ability to compete, and mean further tax rises for hard working families.”

“The taxpayer is footing the bill for his failure to reform the public services, and Gordon Browns lack of fiscal responsibility will damage our ability to compete in the new global economy.”

“Brown is an old-fashioned tax-and-spend chancellor who cannot give the leadership we need to face the challenges of the new global economy.”

“The loon is the oldest bird and is the fastest-flying amphibian. And they have a call as unique as this airplane,”

“It was quite an honor,”

Tax cuts should be for life, not just for Christmas.

I think the British people are very, very attached to the idea that the health service is free at the point of use. But there is no reason why every doctor, nurse and teacher in this country has to be employed by the state.

One thing I learned about Gordon Brown is youve got to have the strength to just get in there and take him on. When you first hear him spouting his statistics and boasting about his record, it can be quite intimidating. But over time, shadowing him, I just realised that a lot of it was rubbish; a lot of it was baloney.

We need strength and success elsewhere in our country - not by pulling London down but by building the rest of the country up.

I had the closest thing I have ever had to an out-of-body experience lying in bed one morning. I turned on the Today programme and item four on the news was: The shadow chancellor has ruled himself out of the leadership. I lay there thinking thats interesting, then I realised it was me.

The positive news is that the British economy is continuing to grow and is creating jobs. And it is positive news too that at a time of real international instability we are a safe haven in the storm.

I support gay marriage. I support gay marriage because I believe Conservatives support the institutions of commitment.

I understand the damage the expenses crisis has done to Parliament, and the paramount importance of restoring trust in our politics.

In football, as in politics, resilience pays off.