George Osborne was just 33 when he became shadow chancellor in 2005. His youth, his background (St Paul's, Oxford) and his manner meant David Cameron's Conservatives offered a very different spokesman to Labour heavyweight Gordon Brown (Kirkcaldy High School, Edinburgh).
The Tatton MP, with all the credentials to climb up Britain's establishment, also offered another important factor – friendship. The bickering between Tony Blair and Brown, between Number 10 and Number 11, is well-known. The relationship, after all, was allegedly based on a gentleman's agreement at an Islington restaurant, rather than a pact founded on companionship. Cameron and Osborne, however, are chums. The top Tories are godfathers to each other's children.
But despite their bonds, it has taken the pair a decade and their party 18 long, strenuous years to deliver what Osborne will announce on 8 July — a Tory budget. With the Liberal Democrats still licking their considerable election wounds and a Conservative majority in the bag, Osborne has free economic reign at the dispatch box in the House of Commons. The chancellor, now 44, can fulfil his political life's ambition (well, so far).
IBTimes UK takes a look at how Osborne's image has changed alongside the Conservatives' policies in this picture slideshow.
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[2005] David Cameron, after beating David Davis to the Tory leadership, appoints a 33-year-old George Osborne as his shadow chancellor Getty
[2005] David Cameron, after beating David Davis to the Tory leadership, appoints a 33-year-old George Osborne as his shadow chancellor Getty[2006] Osborne heaps praise on the Irish economy, the 'Celtic Tiger', in a Times article before it falls into recession two years laterGetty[2007] Osborne controversially commits the Tories to match Labour's public sector spending plan — a 2% hike over three yearsGetty[2008] The financial crisis hits the UK and Osborne blames Labour for the government's 'light touch' regulation over the CityGetty[2009] Osborne, as the political fallout from the financial crisis continues, promises to break up Lloyds and the Royal Bank of ScotlandGetty[2010] The Conservatives win the most seats at the general election but they are 19 short of a majority in the Commons. They join with the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition governmentGetty[2011] Osborne claims his economic package is a 'budget for growth' and notably keeps the 50% top rate of taxGetty[2012] Osborne announces that the top rate of tax will be cut to 45p from April 2013 and corporation tax will be cut to 24% in April 2012Getty[2013] Osborne, in a bid to tackle the UK's affordable housing crisis, introduces a new Help-to-Buy scheme for people struggling to get on the property ladderGetty[2014] Osborne unveils the government's so-called 'pensions revolution', a raft of legislation to enable retirees to access their savings more easilyGetty[2015] Osborne gives his final budget in March ahead of the general election in May. He only mentions his 'long-term economic plan' three timesGetty
