The Wardman Wire

The question marks over exactly what was said and done between Mr Deripaska and George Osborne are not going away… they are in fact growing.

This appeared to me to be a bit of a non-story when it first broke today. There were no firm allegations of Osborne or the Tories accepting money or of any wrong doing. But the way the news agencies are sticking with this one suggests there is more than meets the eye.

It was very foolish of the Tories to pursue Mandelson for his relationship with Deripaska when they were sinking cocktails in the sun with him too. Osborne was also a little foolish to let slip details of his “chance” meeting on holiday with Mandelson and the disdain he is claimed (known) to have for Brown. He was setting himself up here. Well, it is no surprise that after such dirty play Nathaniel Rothschild has landed Osborne right in it and I suspect - though this is of course only a hunch - Mandelson gave a few words of encouragement to Mr Rothschild in the process.

The question now is, why is Osborne denying anything was said about donations? If something was said, there is still no allegations of any wrong doing. It just make him look like a bit of hypocrite and really rather foolish. It is not sackable though. But you sense that the veracity the news agencies, and in particular the BBC, are taking over this one there is something in this. Has George Osborne lied?

The Tories have released a statement saying:

At no point did Mr Osborne or Mr Feldman solicit or ask for a donation, suggest ways of channelling a donation or express any wish to meet with Mr Deripaska to discuss donations.

They say they have witnesses to back this up. Unfortunately, the other side also suggest they have proof that donations were discussed. If there is proof that donations were discussed Osborne is in seriously hot water - calls for his resignation will be made.

I am very much in two minds about this one. On the one hand, the story is persistent which suggests there is more to it than we currently know. On the other hand, there are still no firm facts about wrong doings and Osborne would be a fool to lie if there was some wrong doing.  You have to wonder why didn’t Osborne just get the story out first and admit it was discussed but then dismissed, if that was the case? Why on earth did the Tories go for Mandelson about going on the Queen K, when they have been have jollies on there too? It reminds me of Mandelson when he failed to just be open from the start - he probably would not have been sacked so many times if he had been!

The media machine is really starting to work against the Tories at the moment and I have little doubt that Mandelson’s return to the front line has something to do with this. So far his return to the front bench has been very effective. If this is a big one and George Osborne does have to resign, then I will be piling all my money on a Labour election win - it is that big a story. This story could be drop in the ocean or it could absolutely devastating for George Osborne and the Tories. The next few days will tell…