Budget funnies: George’s Magna Cart-ha ha ha
SO HE CAME wearing a blue tie and his newly slimmed-down physique (thanks to the 5:2 diet we hear) but George Osborne garnered most attention at yesterday’s Budget speech with a Magna Carta gag. While announcing plans to commemorate the famous script, Osborne took a swipe at Ed Miliband, pointing out how King John was a, “weak leader who betrayed his brother and was compelled by unruly barons to sign on the dotted line,” putting emphasis on BETRAYED HIS BROTHER. Almost the entire chamber erupted in laughter. The Tories loved it. So did Twitter.
But as someone pointed out, it’s a tad rich making a Magna Carta joke when David Cameron was shamed on Letterman in 2012 for not knowing what the phrase meant.
Meanwhile, vital stats for fluttering punters, (Ladbrokes and Sporting Index were both offering odds on a range of Budget figures) were: speech length – 55 minutes, number of “order, orders” during Osborne’s monologue – one and sips of water – one. Not such thirsty work this year then.
Other moments of hilarity came when MPs started yelling out “House!” not because they’d won at Budget Bingo but because Osborne announced bingo duty would be halved to 10 per cent.
Smiles were also widely spread at the news of 1p off a pint. “Who wants to get smasho on beer and play some bingo?” tweeted satirical punditry whizz Harry Cole.
The Capitalist is game. “Eyes down…”