Outside the Box

George the Progressively Osborne's credentials as a posturing little twit were substantially enhanced today when it was revealed that his staff had nagged and wheedled the National Archive into letting him follow the example of Gordon's little Darling and use a fragile museum piece while he posed for photographs. Osborne, who is preparing a swingeing attack on the public sector that will leave thousands out of work and quite possibly send the economy into a depression, and who doubtless considers himself a moderniser on that account, did not wish to be the first Conservative chancellor not to carry Gladstone's red box while bashing poor people. Treasury officials said that concerns over the state of the relic were justified, but that Osborne hoped it could be sellotaped together in time for him to use it when posing and grinning for further attacks over the next five years.