Did Mark Carney ever deny wanting a job in England?

Mark Carney’s decision to take up the governorship of the Bank of England came as a huge surprise to most people. But should it have been so shocking?

The soon-to-be-former governor of the Bank of Canada has consistently left the door open to the gig in England, but only the benefit of retrospect makes it clear. Now, the video evidence.

 

Here’s Carney talking to the CBC’s Evan Solomon on Power and Politics. Towards the end of the interview, when Solomon asked about a potential bid for the federal Liberal leadership, Carney sounded somewhat blunt.

“I have no intention of seeking political office. I’m governor of the Bank of Canada. I have responsibilities. I’m going to be a central banker for some time, god willing. And there’s a lot to do,” he said. Okay, so he’ll be a central banker for some time, sure. Maybe not in Canada. Nice move, governor.

Here’s Carney this past August, after the Bank of England’s Governor, Mervyn King, announced he was stepping down in June 2013. The BBC’s Zeinab Badawi asked Carney if he wanted the job. Here’s the key part of his answer, which comes at about the 20-minute mark:

Carney: “It’s an extremely important post. I’m very focused on my post at the Bank of Canada and the Financial Stability Board. And I look forward to working with the new, or next, governor of the Bank of England. But until the end of June of next year, I’ll very much enjoy working with [inaudible].”

Badawi: So is that a ‘no’ or a ‘never’?

Carney: It’s both.

Importantly, he didn’t say he never wanted the job—only that he didn’t want it before the end of next June, which is exactly what’s played out. He’ll start his job at the Bank of England on July 1, 2013.

In an interview with CTV’s Lisa Laflamme, also last August, Carney said he hadn’t been approached to run the Bank of England and was “focused on [his] role” at the Bank of Canada and the Financial Stability Board. No real denials there.

Carney played his cards close to his chest and, apparently, got one past the press until almost the moment before he announced his new job. Bravo.

Related links:

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney picked to lead British central bank

When two Canadian political powerhouses left their jobs

Mark Carney: the Canadian hired to save the world.