Portrait of George Osborne
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George Osborne on Rachel Reeves

Cautious professional approval (moderate)

TL;DR

George Osborne views Rachel Reeves as serious and capable, despite political differences, suggesting she is fit for the role.

Key Points

  • He stated that Rachel Reeves is "clearly intelligent and serious," which is what the Chancellor job requires.

  • He warned her that increasing major taxes like VAT, NI, or income tax would be "difficult to break a manifesto promise" in November 2025.

  • He indicated that a budget relying only on tax rises would be mistaken, suggesting a preference for a mix of tax rises and spending cuts.

Summary

George Osborne has expressed a view of Rachel Reeves as a serious and intelligent politician, acknowledging her suitability for the Chancellor role while maintaining his Conservative allegiance. He indicated that while he prefers his own party's candidates, he would not consider it "terrible for the country" if she governed, noting he has known her for years and worked with her husband. This assessment stems from the belief that she projects the necessary air of trustworthiness regarding public money, a key attribute for the office.

He has also commented on her fiscal strategy, warning her that breaking manifesto promises regarding major taxes like VAT, National Insurance, or income tax would be politically difficult. Furthermore, he has commented that tax rises are probable but cautioned that a budget relying solely on tax increases would be unbalanced, suggesting a mix of tax rises and spending cuts would be preferable. The former Chancellor’s commentary frames his position as one of pragmatic, cross-party recognition of competence, tinged with political caveats regarding policy execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

George Osborne has stated that he finds Rachel Reeves to be both intelligent and serious, indicating that she possesses the necessary qualities for the demanding role of Chancellor, according to comments recorded in late 2025. However, he maintains his Conservative political preference, stating he would rather have his party's candidates in office. His support appears to be based on professional assessment of her capability rather than political agreement.

Yes, George Osborne commented on her potential tax plans in November 2025, warning that breaking manifesto pledges against raising income tax, VAT, or National Insurance would be politically challenging, as reported in The Independent. He also suggested that any fiscal event should involve a balance between tax rises and spending cuts, rather than focusing exclusively on increasing taxes.

Some commentary has compared Rachel Reeves's framing of the economy to Osborne's previous approach, with one analysis dubbing her the 'pound shop George Osborne' according to an UnHerd article from January 2025. Osborne himself acknowledged knowing her for years and suggested that with her, Starmer, Sunak, and Hunt, there were sensible people on both sides capable of governing.