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George Osborne laughs off jibes after Obama's name mixup George Osborne laughs off jibes after Obama's name mixup
(4 months later)
He may have suffered a mortifying case of mistaken identity at the hands of Barack Obama but at least George Osborne had the grace to laugh about it.He may have suffered a mortifying case of mistaken identity at the hands of Barack Obama but at least George Osborne had the grace to laugh about it.
The chancellor's response was a few hours in the making and came in quite low on the comedy scale, as he did his best to make light of the news that the US president had confused him with the R&B singer Jeffrey Osborne.The chancellor's response was a few hours in the making and came in quite low on the comedy scale, as he did his best to make light of the news that the US president had confused him with the R&B singer Jeffrey Osborne.
"One unexpected breakthrough from G8 – offer to sing with legend @_JeffreyOsborne," the chancellor tweeted on Thursday after his namesake offered to sing with him when he is next in London. And then the punchline: "Jeff you wouldn't suggest a duet if you'd heard me sing.""One unexpected breakthrough from G8 – offer to sing with legend @_JeffreyOsborne," the chancellor tweeted on Thursday after his namesake offered to sing with him when he is next in London. And then the punchline: "Jeff you wouldn't suggest a duet if you'd heard me sing."
The chancellor, who is the cabinet's most fervent Americophile, took to Twitter after the Financial Times and the Sun reported that Obama had referred to him as "Jeffrey" on three occasions during a presentation by Osborne on tax avoidance at the G8 summit on Tuesday.The chancellor, who is the cabinet's most fervent Americophile, took to Twitter after the Financial Times and the Sun reported that Obama had referred to him as "Jeffrey" on three occasions during a presentation by Osborne on tax avoidance at the G8 summit on Tuesday.
Obama quickly apologised to an embarrassed Osborne, who is highly sensitive about his name, having abandoned his original first name of Gideon by deed poll as a teenager.Obama quickly apologised to an embarrassed Osborne, who is highly sensitive about his name, having abandoned his original first name of Gideon by deed poll as a teenager.
"I'm sorry man," the FT reported Obama as saying. "I must have confused you with my favourite R&B singer.""I'm sorry man," the FT reported Obama as saying. "I must have confused you with my favourite R&B singer."
But the damage was done to Osborne, who regularly dishes out sarcastic quips even to his closest aides but is less keen when the ribbing is returned.But the damage was done to Osborne, who regularly dishes out sarcastic quips even to his closest aides but is less keen when the ribbing is returned.
Even Downing Street joined in the fun. David Cameron's spokesman said: "A friend of mine who's a Jeffrey Osborne fan tells me that one of his tracks is Call My Name."Even Downing Street joined in the fun. David Cameron's spokesman said: "A friend of mine who's a Jeffrey Osborne fan tells me that one of his tracks is Call My Name."
The real Jeffrey Osborne, 65, whose most famous song is the 1982 hit On the Wings of Love, relished the attention.The real Jeffrey Osborne, 65, whose most famous song is the 1982 hit On the Wings of Love, relished the attention.
"I was really delighted, actually," the singer told Sky News. "I was really not aware that he [Obama] was that much of a fan that he would call the chancellor Jeffrey Osborne. Tell the chancellor when I come over I will have to hook up with him and we will do a duet of On the Wings Of Love, or something.""I was really delighted, actually," the singer told Sky News. "I was really not aware that he [Obama] was that much of a fan that he would call the chancellor Jeffrey Osborne. Tell the chancellor when I come over I will have to hook up with him and we will do a duet of On the Wings Of Love, or something."
As the excitement grew, the singer's Wikipedia entry was amended to reflect his new status. For a brief period it said: "As of June 2013 [he] is the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Second Lord of the Treasury of the UK." Within minutes this was removed.As the excitement grew, the singer's Wikipedia entry was amended to reflect his new status. For a brief period it said: "As of June 2013 [he] is the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Second Lord of the Treasury of the UK." Within minutes this was removed.
The singer later demonstrated on the PM programme on Radio 4 how he could be a crooning chancellor, belting out a few lines at the suggestion of the presenter Eddie Mair. He sang: "Tax cuts should be for life, not for just Christmas time."The singer later demonstrated on the PM programme on Radio 4 how he could be a crooning chancellor, belting out a few lines at the suggestion of the presenter Eddie Mair. He sang: "Tax cuts should be for life, not for just Christmas time."
Osborne will now be the butt of jokes in the close-knit Cameron circle where the air often turns blue with the jibes that are the stock in trade of its members.Osborne will now be the butt of jokes in the close-knit Cameron circle where the air often turns blue with the jibes that are the stock in trade of its members.
Behind his smiles, however, Obama's mistake is mortifying for Osborne who prides himself on his understanding, knowledge and wider contacts base across the political spectrum of the US.Behind his smiles, however, Obama's mistake is mortifying for Osborne who prides himself on his understanding, knowledge and wider contacts base across the political spectrum of the US.
His favourite reading material is the quartet of books by Robert Caro charting the life of the late US president Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Osborne used to write regular book reviews on US politics and history for the Spectator before he became chancellor.His favourite reading material is the quartet of books by Robert Caro charting the life of the late US president Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Osborne used to write regular book reviews on US politics and history for the Spectator before he became chancellor.
Another Americophile, Ed Balls, who will be responding to Osborne's spending statement next week, will no doubt be working hard on some gags to deepen the chancellor's embarrassment.Another Americophile, Ed Balls, who will be responding to Osborne's spending statement next week, will no doubt be working hard on some gags to deepen the chancellor's embarrassment.
Balls might be tempted to joke that Osborne's decision to join Cameron for his semi-state visit to the White House in March last year – shortly before the "omnishambles budget" – had obviously been fully vindicated.Balls might be tempted to joke that Osborne's decision to join Cameron for his semi-state visit to the White House in March last year – shortly before the "omnishambles budget" – had obviously been fully vindicated.
But the jibes in private will probably hurt Osborne a little more. Should Cameron remind him of his new name, Osborne might hit back by reminding him that Obama described Nick Clegg as "the better-looking half of the coalition" when the deputy prime minister joined the G8 summit lunch on Tuesday.But the jibes in private will probably hurt Osborne a little more. Should Cameron remind him of his new name, Osborne might hit back by reminding him that Obama described Nick Clegg as "the better-looking half of the coalition" when the deputy prime minister joined the G8 summit lunch on Tuesday.
When asked on his weekly LBC radio phone-in about the compliment, Clegg said: "Do you know what? It was a passing comment. Any observer looking at the three of us would conclude that the person who looked the coolest was Obama.When asked on his weekly LBC radio phone-in about the compliment, Clegg said: "Do you know what? It was a passing comment. Any observer looking at the three of us would conclude that the person who looked the coolest was Obama.
"I should think he [Cameron] didn't even hear it. It was in quite a scrum as we were going into a lunch.""I should think he [Cameron] didn't even hear it. It was in quite a scrum as we were going into a lunch."
Telling them apartTelling them apart
Jeffrey OsborneJeffrey Osborne
Age 65Age 65
Looks 42Looks 42
Son of Clarence "Legs" OsborneSon of Clarence "Legs" Osborne
Sings: On the wings of love / Only the two of us / Together flying high / Flying high/ Upon the wings of loveSings: On the wings of love / Only the two of us / Together flying high / Flying high/ Upon the wings of love
Sang the national anthem before game four of the NBA finals in LA in 2008Sang the national anthem before game four of the NBA finals in LA in 2008
George OsborneGeorge Osborne
Age 42Age 42
Looks 65Looks 65
Son of Sir Peter Osborne BtSon of Sir Peter Osborne Bt
Says: We will safeguard Britain's credit rating with a credible plan to eliminate the bulk of the structural deficit over a parliamentSays: We will safeguard Britain's credit rating with a credible plan to eliminate the bulk of the structural deficit over a parliament
Was booed before presenting the medals at the Paralympics in London in 2012Was booed before presenting the medals at the Paralympics in London in 2012
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