George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild

rwendland Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 11:23:44 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Interesting spat developing between George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild about what was or was not said to Oleg Deripaska, Russia’s richest man, about a possible donation to the Conservative Party.

This morning Today reported that Rothschild had a witness who would back up his claim in yesterday's letter to The Times if it came to court. Interesting that Osborne was accompanied by Andrew Feldman, Tory party chief executive, at the drinks party on the yacht in Corfu. Rothschild's major claim in his letter is that "George Osborne, who also accepted my hospitality, found the opportunity of meeting with Mr Deripaska so good that he invited the Conservatives’ fundraiser Andrew Feldman, who was staying nearby, to accompany him on to Mr Deripaska’s boat to solicit a donation.", and also that "it was suggested by Mr Feldman, in a subsequent conversation at which Mr Deripaska was not present, that the donation was “channelled” through one of Mr Deripaska’s British companies."

The Tories completely deny that they attempted to solicit a donation from Oleg Deripaska. Donations by overseas residents, or a proxy British company, are illegal under PPERA.




Nathaniel Rothschild was a member of the Bullingdon Club at the same time as George Osborne!

NB Peter Mandelson was also at the drinks party, as he has been at other select gatherings. But now a cabinet minister he has to give this up, as per the ministerial code & perceived conflicts of interest.

_____________________________

 

Tribune cartoon

Tribune Cartoons: Alex Hughes - 24th October 2008 - Creative Commons: Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0

 



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George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild | 31 comments (31 topical)

Re: George Osborne & Nathaniel Rothschild (#1)

by Passing Leftie on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 11:31:15 AM GMT

This method of channeling funds through a trading UK company may be what Ashcroft is under investigation for, as I discuss here.


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#2)

by LabourMatters on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 12:59:20 PM GMT

It looks like the wisdom of getting Peter 'the crab' back is starting to show!

This from the FT Wesminster blog is interesting:

In a speech to Demos in late August, Mr Osborne said: “In the free-for-all of Russia in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of communism, instead of fair reward for effort we saw the unfair wholesale transfer of state resources to individuals.”

I’m not sure exactly when Mr Osborne took his holiday in Corfu, but I can’t imagine it was too long before or after making those comments.

As this blog has noted, the Tories have in the past accepted donations from two billionaire brothers who made their fortune in Russian metals and survived what was called the “Great Patriotic Aluminium War”. David and Simon Reuben, now run a London-based property empire, have quietly donated almost £200,000 to the Tories via six companies.

Source.

Osborne maintains that he didn't solicit a donation, Oleg Deripaska claims he did and has witnesses who are willing to testify he did. This'll need something new if it's not to become 'your word against mine'. Over to you Peter!


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#3)

by adwilliams134 on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 01:19:30 PM GMT

I would leave this alone for a couple of days and see how it pans out first.

This smacks more of Mandelson out for revenge than anything else,  after all, was he not on the same yacht with the same Russian and then went and waived through certain business dealing concerning aluminium whilst he was Eurocrating?

What is not in dispute over this by either side is the following:-

Rothschild bunged the letter at the Times,  following threats of legal action revised it.

The Russian offered money but Osbourne declined it acording to the Tories.  The Russian says he was asked.

Their side claims to have a witness saying the Tories asked, but who this witness is and what they know we do not know - YET. (but it will leak, Mandelson will make sure of it if it's true, snidey that he is)

Osbourne says in fact he's ben on the yacht twice - one with Mandelson - and is offering to publish everything that was discused by everyone on both occasions. (at this points are there any bets that there was stuff discussed that either the Russki or whoever else was on there would rather not see in the public domain?  Perhaps Mandy slagging GB to the hoi-poloi?)

This will be utterly irrelevant to the vast majority of people within a couple of days. It doesn't involve real money,  it doesn't involve sex,  it doesn't involve anyone of any great interest or importance to most people and it doesn't involve drugs. It's boring and it won't sell newspapers,  especially not in a Champions League week. From joe public's point of view it's just more evidence that politicians of all sides are sly and always on the take. 


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#6)

by snowflake5 on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 02:24:18 PM GMT

Their side claims to have a witness saying the Tories asked, but who this witness is and what they know we do not know

The witness is one of Rothschild himself's people and apparently he has said he's willing to testify in court about it.

The other interesting thing is that Nathanial Rothschild is a Tory donor, his wife gave £190,000 of her husband's money to George Osborne so he could run his private office. So this is a spat within Tory ranks.

The other thing is - I thought Tories had taken such a dislike to Russians they were calling for them to be banned from shopping in London. So what are they doing yachting with them?


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#7)

by adwilliams134 on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 02:33:18 PM GMT

and indeed what is a Rothschild doing knifing a Tory?  Bullingdon Club and all that.  'Black-Ball' him at the Golf Club or something?  Cheated at Bridge perhaps?

This story is smoke.  There is something else going on behind all this which is why I said it smacks of more to do with Mandelson-style revenge-seeking than anything else.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#8)

by snowflake5 on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 02:42:21 PM GMT

indeed what is a Rothschild doing knifing a Tory?

Well the story was triggered by Rothschild personally writing to the Times to raise the issue of teh Russian donation. I'm not sure Mandy (or any Labour person really) has the clout to force rich Tories like Rothschild to do anything. Rothschild acted of his own free will.

No, this looks like a bitter spat amongst Tories that has spilled into the public domain for the entertainment of all of us.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#9)

by adwilliams134 on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 02:54:08 PM GMT

Maybe it's for the same reason that the Daily Mail doesn't like Orbourne and Cameron - they're not tory enough for real tories.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#11)

by snowflake5 on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 02:59:58 PM GMT

If that was the case why would Rothschild give Osborne £190k? If he felt Osborne was not a real Tory he would have given the money to Redwood instead.

No something else is going on here - and I expect it will come out in a few days. Fun, isn't it?


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#15)

by jkitleft on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 07:24:23 PM GMT

Irrelevant scnadals always invoke a piety in the media, about as convincing as Dracula fainting at the sight of blood. the Westland affair seems to me to be pointless, and yet people say it could have brought down Thatcher.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#4)

by swatantra on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 01:21:50 PM GMT

You just can't take the sleaze out of the Tories...no matter how hard you try. George, if Oleg is the richest Russian, why tap him for only £50 000?


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#5)

by rwendland on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 01:45:14 PM GMT

Osborne took a few reporter questions this morning, but came across as pretty evasive on WATO. Stuck to the strict letter of the denial, but evaded any wider questions along the lines "was money discussed". I think this will be a tricky one for the Tories, the hounds have a wiff of blood.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#10)

by AngryVoter on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 02:56:03 PM GMT

Wow, Mandleson's back and already the hounds are out...

There's so many claims, counter claims and counter-counter claims flying in this issue I genuinely cannot be bothered to even read up on it.

 It's about as complex as Mandleson's own closet of skeletons and seems to have the backing of Labours own attack dogs in what can only be described as an incresingly desperate vote-grab.

Or didn't anybody else notice Mandleson's also evasive answering on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday?

Seems to me this, coupled with the rumour that Blair called Rothschild to send in the letter is the first of a long series of spars which will get increasingly brutal up to 2010 between Mandleson and Osbourne.

They're both "movers and shakers" and will thus trade such gunfire for some considerable time.

After all Mandleson's been there too.


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#14)

by NorthernMonkey on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 07:06:12 PM GMT

More sticking your fingers in your ear and shouting 'la, la, la, I'm not listening' from you again I see.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#16)

by AngryVoter on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 11:19:34 PM GMT

No. I'm quite literally saying wait and see what is eventually hammered out as the truth. There's too much crap flying around to get a vaguely clear picture aside from a couple of claims, counter claims and a letter to The Times Newspaper.

It's like some of the stuff that's happened in the Labour ranks from Mandleson and the Ballses or the Speaker of the House.

Picking it apart would take a lot longer than this media circus and random frothing at the mouth commentators.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#17)

by AngryVoter on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 11:22:07 PM GMT

Additional: I've also found out just that there's been at least three versions of this single letter with the story changed several times.

It seems Rothschild is bungling whatever story he's going with now and keeps changing the letter to avoid lawsuits of the slander variety.

Just me, or is this really smacking of "setup" now?


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#12)

by For the Union on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 03:57:09 PM GMT

This has made my day. Boy george thought he was big enough to play mandelson at his own game; the dark lord is having the last laugh.

When it comes to muck raking - george uses a spade, Mandelson uses a JCB. There is no contest.

 


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#13)

by LabourMatters on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 04:41:31 PM GMT

And it gets worse!

<h2>Osborne failed to declare free family holiday</h2>

George Osborne failed to declare a free family holiday from the man who introduced him to Oleg Deripaska.

The shadow chancellor, his wife Frances and their children were staying at the Corfu home of financier Nathaniel Rothschild, the Standard has learned.

The Osbornes paid their own flights for the august holiday but Mr Osborne neglected to mention in the register of Member's Interests that they also had the run of the Rothschilds' clifftop estate for a week. During the stay Mr Osborne was invited to meet Mr Deripaska on his £80 million yacht moored nearby.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "The golden rule is that you don't take hospitality from somebody who has a clear financial interest in the policy you are creating."

A spokesman for the shadow chancellor denied he had broken the rule and added: "This was a stay with an old friend."

However, MPs said the fact that Mr Rothschild was entertaining so many influential figures would suggest business was discussed by guests.

Source.


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#18)

by ppbarrett on Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 12:39:13 AM GMT

It really makes you think what goes through their heads when they make these sort of trips - a summer of credit crunch, repossesions, unemployment, high oil prices and inflation, let's go visit a Russian Billionaire and a fellow Bullingdon Club member!

 Brilliantly summised here - http://sgspolitics.blogspot.com/2008/10/osborne-affair.html

 


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#19)

by LabourMatters on Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 06:23:38 PM GMT

To be fair, George Osborne did break off his (apparently working) holiday to fly back to deliver a speech on poverty!


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#20)

by Floating voter on Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 08:44:27 PM GMT

I can understand Osbourne trampling on the backs of the peasants with his Russian and Oxford chums - he *is* a tory. But Mandelson? What is a socialist doing schmoozing in that environment?

If I understand the press reports Osbourne came, partied and left but Mandelson stayed overnight on this 238ft £100m yacht.

What's going on with the role reversal here? 


[ Parent ]

George Osborne and Murdoch (#21)

by rwendland on Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 11:43:05 AM GMT

Maybe Osborne has made an enemy of Murdoch by his initial blabbing. Murdoch was there, and the gathering was to do with his daughter's 40th birthday. The Sun editorial (Rebekah Wade) said:

Mr Osborne also leaked details of a private chat with Peter Mandelson which both parties were entitled to consider confidential.

If the Shadow Chancellor betrays other people's secrets, he can hardly expect them to keep his.

A warning?

Hattip: bloggerheads


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#22)

by wgm on Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 05:56:39 PM GMT

What the hell has happened to this story? The media seemed to be on the verge of calling on Osbourne to resign. He claims he did nothing wrong and everyone seems to say "the word of a gentleman is good enough for me" and he's let off.

Mandleson, Byers, Hain and Wendy Alexander were all hounded into resignation for far less serious stuff than this - double standards?

I can only hope some of the investigative reporters on the Sunday papers can revive this story and put Osbourne under proper scrutiny.


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#23)

by NB on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 11:38:31 AM GMT

The Electoral Commission has made it perfectly clear that no possible offence has been committed by Osborne. However it is clear that Mandelson had been accepting lavish hospitality from Deripaska for some years, whilst approving deals that have made Deripaska billions. Rothschild appears to be in Deripaska's pay, and has been doing a big "Keep off the Grass" notice. Like most of these "cunning plans" it won't work. I wonder how long before Mandelson's 3rd resignation?


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#24)

by NB on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 01:22:48 PM GMT

Also the FT today has a full page (titled "Close to the Wind") about Deripaska who is apparently "scrambling to find refinancing for a $4.5bn loan" and they quote someone as claiming that his business empire "is starting to look like a house of cards"


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#25)

by DevonChap on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 06:27:52 PM GMT

This whole story is a wonderful to and fro. First George reveals "poison dripping" from Mandelson about Brown, First point to the Tories.
Then questions about Mandelson's connections to Deripaska in relation to his role as EU trade commissioner. 2-0 to the Tories.
But the Conservatives aren't having it all their own way. George gets into a spat with Rothschild and his "chats" about donations come out. Worth 2 to Labour so 2-2.
Now Mandelson is having to admit he mislead people over when he first met Deripaska. That makes it 3-2 in my book.
So if Gordon Brown wants an enquiry into George Osbourne, shouldn't there be one into Mandy too?



Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#26)

by RedRooster on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 07:41:54 PM GMT

There already has been one into Mandleson and it cleared him.  -1 for not doing your research properly.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#27)

by NB on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 09:02:04 PM GMT

It was a typical EU whitewash, and Mandy has now admitted that he misled people about the extent and depth of his involvement.

Also it turns out that the Murdoch press was incensed because ... he was there and it was his daughter's birthday celebrations.

 It all stinks!


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#28)

by adwilliams134 on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 10:57:29 PM GMT

Except that it now transpires Mandelson was hob-nobbing with the Russki 2 years earlier than he previously let on,  which means he mislead the EU commission - deliberately.


[ Parent ]

Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#29)

by NB on Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 10:27:04 AM GMT

Pretty good summary of the position as known and the Murdoch/Freud links in the Indy on Sunday here.


Re: George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild (#30)

by swatantra on Tue Oct 28, 2008 at 12:17:58 PM GMT

Osborne and Rothschild behaving like the two upper class brats that they are. Make that prats.


[ Parent ]

Bullingdon mob done over by NotW (#31)

by rwendland on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 06:53:31 PM GMT

Am I the last person to notice that Osborne and the  Bullingdon mob were done over by the News of the World on sunday: Tory Osborne watched my S&M sex games?

You can see why Dave said that he had a right to a private life "before politics".

Hattip: Guido


George Osborne and Nathaniel Rothschild | 31 comments (31 topical)