My new favourite Conservative politician

The more I see of Philip Hammond on TV the more I like him.

Unlike the banal generalisations, assertions and absence of verifiable or even comprehensible argument that characterise the spin as speech of Labour politicians - especially Gordon Brown - Mr Hammond lays the position out clearly and in terms people can understand.

He is reasonable, and reasoned.

I'm hoping he'll get plenty of air time in the run up to Gordon smash and grab general election that his army of spin merchants is plotting in No 10.

See this interview with the BBC where he's backing George Osborn's warning about a possible run on the pound, and fending of the trap questions from the BBC.

Philip Hammond nails newsnight

I've been alarmed by the initial Conservative responses today to the news on interest rates and the question on if they will be passed on. I don't see George Osborne insistence that the government make the banks pass on the cut as something that should ever have come from the mouth of a Conservative politician.

But Philip Hammond on Newsnight just 10 minutes ago was a revelation. He knew his facts, which were up to date,. He delivered in short sentence the key insights into the current problem , nailed the government with the blame and made Vince Cable and the Labour MP who chairs the Treasury select committee look flat footed.

I think this man will be chancellor one day, and maybe shadow chancellor shortly.

Go and watch Thursday's Newsnight to see for yourself.