The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

George Osborne booed at the Paralympic Games

Chancellor greeted with boos as he awards medals for the men's 400m.

By George Eaton Published 03 September 2012 21:16

Chancellor George Osborne. Photograph: Getty Images.

He commented at the weekend that it was "not surprising" that he was unpopular, but George Osborne still probably wasn't expecting to be greeted by a chorus of boos when he presented the medals for the men's 400m at the Paralympic Games. His initial laughter soon gave way to a grimace as his hopes of ever leading the Conservatives disappeared (parties don't elect people who are booed in public).

By contrast, Gordon Brown was greeted with cheers when he arrived at the Aquatic Centre earlier today, while Osborne's future rival for the Conservative leadership, Boris Johnson, received the warmest welcome of all at the Olympic closing ceremony.

I suspect some Tories will try to make a virtue of Osborne's reception, arguing that it demonstrates his ability to take "tough decisions". But they'd be wrong to. There's a difference between decisions that are seen as "tough" but fair ("it's hurting but it's working"), and those that, in addition to being seen as tough, are also seen as wrong.

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12 comments

Tue, 2012-09-04 13:19 — union steve (not verified)

Maybe just maybe people are starting to get the economic consiquences of Mr Osborne.

Tue, 2012-09-04 10:52 — Robert Taggart

The Paralympics...? - the Olympics for Paralytics ??!

Tue, 2012-09-04 09:26 — Indu Pendent

George

You forgot to mention Cameron was cheered. It was emphasised strongly on the 10 O'clock news where I saw it with 8M other voters.

Do you think economic genious Gordon might call some of the people who cheered him 'bigots'? Was Alistair Darling in the audience? Do you think they would have cheered Ed Balls?

Tue, 2012-09-04 20:24 — matthew fox (not verified)

Cameron was cheered, really Inastew. Did he tell the crowd his government will have borrowed £600 Billion by 2015?

Tue, 2012-09-04 10:17 — JohnRuddy

Errr, the cheers were clearly for Ellie Simmons. There were also boos for Cameron, but were icky drowned out when Ellie was announced.

Tue, 2012-09-04 08:30 — hugh markey (not verified)

How the public - often unwittingly - advance the career of George Osborne.
George is now sure to be hired to play the villain in any of this year's pantomimes. In fact, a little of George goes a very long way. Doesn't even require a moustache The children will love him!

Fairytale

Tue, 2012-09-04 06:36 — steve 3 (not verified)

If I had been on that medal podium. I'd have spat in his smug face and willingly faced the consequences.

Tue, 2012-09-04 02:25 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

He has the same abilities as those coming lasy in the race, except they trained for it.

He on the other hand has no qualification as Chancellor of the Exchequer, indeed done fair at Eton paid for results, the more parents pay the more results you get, then went onto Oxford for a waste of life degree.

He drinks with Willia Roach 'Thousands of women conquest' off Corrie, drinks with the Duke of Westminster whom had one '0'level, alike Princess Diana, whom never needed to have education as was rich, indeed sometimes gets angry and snorts and his nostrils become white in rage.

Do we need a prick like this in charge of our economy, when all he wants to do is play mine host with foreign working girls?

Christ came to save our souls , well he is a total one!

Tue, 2012-09-04 02:04 — smn (not verified)

Here is a man who has overcome enormous personal hardships and social disadvantages and yet still managed to have a major impact on all our lives.
And yet they boo him...

Mon, 2012-09-03 23:18 — Michael Dixon (not verified)

Fantastic article this. In line for the prize as the best written in 2012. Gordon Brown cheered, George Osborne booed and Boris Johnson received the warmest welcome of all.

Gordon Brown cheered. Is this fiction or a lapse in memory from the audience?

In the middle of making unpopular decisions after the mess left by Labour and Osborne is booed. Surprise, surprise.

Mon, 2012-09-03 23:00 — Alistair Scott (not verified)

So what's the surprise?

Osborne represents a government that protects the obscenely rich, who do everything they can to avoid paying taxes in the UK, whilst clamping down on the disabled for being unable to work.

The same old toxic Tories ... they don't change.