Osborne Shrugs Off Byron Burger Attacks

George Osborne has shrugged off criticism about tucking into a late-night gourmet burger and chips as he finished off his Spending Review statement.

The Chancellor posted a picture on Twitter on Tuesday evening as he worked late to finalise his speech outlining £11.5bn in extra cuts for 2015/16.

But the apparent attempt to show he is a man-of-the-people backfired after it emerged the meal was from upmarket chain Byron and would have cost around £10.

According to reports, it was ordered from a branch 1.6 miles from Downing Street despite a string of McDonalds being closer and with burgers at 99p.

George Osborne tucking into his burger

One critic who wrote into Sky News said: "Being a not so well off pensioner I feel I must comment on all those photos of an out of touch Chancellor stuffing himself with a £10 burger.

"He's obviously ignorant to the fact that most pensioners have to spread £10 over five meals."

Mr Osborne told Sky: "My job is to work late, I had a hamburger. I'm sorry if that has caused all this controversy.

"One of the challenges for politicians in the modern age is the only time people see politicians is in TV studios or the House of Commons and what Twitter is supposed to help us do is show people that there are lots of other things we are up to during the day.

"I thought I would show people I was working late on the spending review statement and there we go."

Mr Osborne told ITV's Daybreak earlier on Thursday that he was "partial to a quarter pounder with cheese" but added: "Well McDonald's doesn't deliver. I was working late in the office."

But this only sparked more questions about how the Chancellor managed to get Byron to deliver - or whether an official was actually sent to pick it up.

On the chain's official Twitter page, Paul Carey wrote: "We don't deliver! So it must have been a take away ..."

Eric Pickles joined in by posing with a salad (Pic: Twitter/Eric Pickles)

The topic caught on to such an extent that it was trending on the micro-blog site. Byron's website also appeared to have crashed due to all the attention.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg even got in on the act on his LBC radio phone-in, admitting that he too was a fan of the chain.

The Lib Dem leader revealed that his last burger was from there and that he was also keen on their Oreo milkshake.

Downing Street refused to be drawn on whether David Cameron shared his colleagues' taste for the burgers.

A spokesman said: "It's a bit of a side order question", before adding: "I think the Chancellor is relatively new to Twitter."

Cabinet minister Eric Pickles later poked fun at Mr Osborne by posting a picture of himself with a salad.

He wrote on Twitter: "Putting final touches to the LGA speech" and even had a can of Coke and coffee on the table like the Chancellor.

Byron's founder Tom Byng is an old Etonian whose last venture was Zucca, which is said to have been the "office canteen" of David Cameron's Notting Hill set.

Credits:news.sky.com