Lord lamont says mr osborne is in an unusual position of strength . When chancellors are accused of being " non-political " , says lord lamont , it usually means they have said " no " to colleagues itching to spend money .
For guidance , bagehot turned to three former chancellors : nigel lawson ( who held the office under margaret thatcher from 1983 to 1989 ) ; norman lamont ( john major 's chancellor from 1990 to 1993 ) ; and alistair darling , mr osborne 's immediate labour predecessor .
Surrounded by spending ministers , chancellors are in a minority in the cabinet .
面对着一帮要花钱的内阁官员,财政大臣总是势单力薄。
Few chancellors of the exchequer have ever reported such bleak news to the country .
鲜有财政大臣曾报出如此令人沮丧的消息。
Many chancellors have said that they would jump at a tax that had no disincentive effects on work or enterprise but had a strong redistributive element .