Gus's Treasury key
THE FOUR KEY jobs in the Treasury, so Nigel Lawson says in his memoirs, are those of the Chancellor's private secretary, the chief economic adviser, the press secre- tary and the Permanent Secretary — not necessarily (he adds) in that order. The press secretary is not, as elsewhere, a pro- fessional spokesman, but an up and coming mandarin who can explain, within reason, what is going on. Gus O'Donnell was Lord Lawson's last press secretary. John Major, inheriting him, thought himself lucky, and on moving from 11 to 10 Downing Street took Gus with him. What, though, is he to do for an encore? Become director of cor- porate affairs for United Cufflinks, write his memoirs, open supermarkets, join a merchant bank? A courtier has no career path, but if he wants to get his feet back on the Treasury ladder, he should not, I am told, leave it much longer. Forget conspira- cy theory — but one of these days, another key Treasury job will need filling.
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