Quotes By George Osborne

Cutting budget deficits can never be just an exercise in economics.

It's not easy cutting welfare bills. It's not easy cutting the deficit.

I've learned to be true to yourself, stick to the big arguments, don't get distracted by the everyday kerfuffle that is in the nature of any democratic system.

I believe that I'm entitled to regard my pre-political life as off-limits in terms of what can be looked at and judged.

I think the British people have a strong sense of what is fair.

Some things never change, suck up to the government and you get an honour.

It's normally the kiss of death to be identified as a rising star, or someone to watch.

I believe in public services.

I will listen to any argument put to me.

The Conservative party, the modern Conservative party, is on the side of people who want to work hard and get on.

Believe me, I understand that most higher rate taxpayers are not the super-rich.

I would say I have taken substantive action to make things easier for people.

I support gay marriage. I support gay marriage because I believe Conservatives support the institutions of commitment.

The foundations of a strong economy don't rest alone on the decisions of Chancellors or the spending programmes of government.

The rise in world oil prices has been larger than anyone forecast.

They all said I was a very young guy. Well there is nothing I can do about that but with each day that passes the problem solves itself.

You cannot tackle Britain's debts without tackling the unreformed welfare system.

I get a lot of letters from people.

There was a real fear that a euro-zone bank might fail, that we'd have a sovereign debt problem in one of the larger European economies. That's dissipated, thanks largely to the action of the European Central Bank.

Everyone in our society has had to make a contribution towards dealing with the debts.

The British people think that if someone is disabled, then they should get all the care and support that we can offer.

I think the British people are very, very attached to the idea that the health service is free at the point of use. But there is no reason why every doctor, nurse and teacher in this country has to be employed by the state.

Of all the public services, education is the one I'm most interested in. You get a more dynamic economy, you deal with most social problems, and it's morally right.

If someone believes that living on benefits is a lifestyle choice, then we need to make them think again.

I want Britain to be a global financial centre but I want it to be properly regulated.

I didn't come from a traditional Tory background; it was urban and metropolitan.

I want to see genuine talent rewarded.

I'm a Conservative who believes in lower taxes. They lead to a more enterprising economy. But I'm not somebody who believes you can fund lower taxes by borrowing more money.

The Conservative Party mustn't sound like the old man on the park bench who says things were better in 1985, or 1955, or 1855.

If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.