Editing Hugh Gaitskell (section)

=== Economic philosophy ===
On his appointment, Gaitskell told [[William Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Sanderstead|William Armstrong]], his Principal Private Secretary, that the main job over next few years would be the [[redistribution of wealth]].<ref name="Dell 1997, p.147">Dell 1997, p.147</ref>

[[Rab Butler]] and [[Samuel Brittan]], both writing in the early 1970s, commented that Gaitskell was the most technically qualified chancellor of the 20th century up until that date.<ref name="Dell 1997, p.138" /> However, Dell comments that he often went into excessive detail, including personally overseeing economic forecasts, and held excessively long meetings. This may have been from a love of micro-management or because, as an advocate of controls and planning, he was suspicious of treasury officials, whom he thought excessively inclined to free market mechanisms.<ref>Dell 1997, p.139</ref>

In December 1950, Gaitskell rejected the advice of [[Cameron Cobbold, 1st Baron Cobbold|Kim Cobbold]] ([[Governor of the Bank of England]]) and Hall that interest rates be raised, calling such a policy "completely antiquated".<ref name="Dell 1997, p.141" />