IN CONVERSATION
The Future Of
series is available in full on the OPC website As part of the celebrations of the 150th Anniversary of the Old Pauline Club, President Ed Vaizey (1981-85) has had conversations with OPs who are leaders in their fields. So far, he has covered the Future of Politics with George Osborne (1984-89); Britain’s Position in the World with Sir Simon Fraser (1971-75); Health with Matthew Gould (1984-89) and The Arts with Simon Fox (1974-78) and Patrick Spence (1981-85). In May, his final conversation will be with Lord Baker (1948-53) and the High Master on The Future of Education. Below are Atrium’s summaries of these conversations.
POLITICS (30th November 2021)
“Keir Starmer doesn’t want it as much as Boris Johnson” George Osborne was appointed one of the youngest ever Chancellors of the Exchequer in 2010 and served the full term of the Cameron administration until 2016. He left the House of Commons in 2017, having served sixteen years as an MP. Since leaving politics, he has undertaken a variety of roles, including editing London’s Evening Standard. He now works as a banker with Robey Warshaw and is Chair of the British Museum. The conversation covered a number of topics including politics from how to navigate the PM/ Chancellor relationship through Brexit, being in Opposition, the red wall seats, the future of the Union and the two-party system in the UK as well as life as Chair of the British Museum and Culture Wars. George touched on his time at School and the quality of the teaching which he thought was ahead of his experience at Oxford. He also ruefully reminded us that he was Vice-Captain of School in 1989. His view was that Labour was becoming more credible. It had a Shadow Cabinet that looked like it could form a government and that it was distancing itself from the Corbyn policies. But “Keir Starmer does not want it as much as Boris Johnson. Boris will do anything to keep the job and be re-elected”. George’s final answer, however on whether he would go back into politics was possibly the most 22
ATRIUM
SPRING / SUMMER 2022
revealing. “Being in politics is an amazing, all-consuming life but, only when you stop, do you realise the damage it does. Political life often ends in the equivalent of a career car crash. If I was to return properly it would have to be as an MP because the action is in the House of Commons and that rules out other things in your life”.
