LONDON: George Osborne agreed today that his budget measures to boost pay and workplace skills were intended to “kick British businesses up their lazy arses”.
The chancellor laughed and said that he was not sure which cabinet minister had made the comment to Tim Montgomerie,the Times columnist, but made plain he was not unhappy with the remark.
“I would use slightly more diplomatic language,” said Mr Osborne, interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.