Let Osborne finish the job

Upon taking office, David Cameron promised himself that he would resist the temptation to sack ministers in response to every scandal. He would have a major reshuffle halfway through his government and another one before the election. That would be all. He is now understood to be weeks away from deciding who should go where, and Labour-supporting newspapers are commissioning opinion polls to help the Prime Minister in his deliberations. The main verdict: sack George Osborne. Some Tory MPs agree. If there is to be a new Chancellor, now would be the time, because any new economic strategy would take three years to have much effect.

This argument is as misleading as it is simplistic. To remove a Chancellor is a radical step for any British government, and one that should only be made if it serves a clear purpose. In this case, there is no such clear purpose. Sacking Osborne would delight the Labour party, who have been outfoxed by him on several occasions.