Osborne’s climate gaffe

Someone must really want to hurt figure-of-fun, “Boy” George Osborne. As these images from the BBC show, within a minute of announcing that Lord Stern would advise the Conservatives, the man in question had issued a statement denying his involvement.

George-Osborne-Lord-Stern-gaffe

The full story is reported in the Evening Standard and on Sky. George Osborne announced he was “delighted that Lord Stern has agreed to advise us on the creation of this Green Investment Bank”. Only for Lord Stern to say later:

“I should stress that I am not, and have no plans to be, an adviser to any political party.

“Climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy should be high on the agenda for every political party, not just to reduce the risks that result from greenhouse gas emissions but also to stimulate an exciting period of growth, creativity and innovation.

“I would be willing to speak to the Conservatives’ advisory group about their ideas for a Green Investment Bank, just as I am continuing to contribute to discussions with the Labour Government about policies on climate change.”

Lord Stern was second permanent secretary at the Treasury while Gordon Brown was Chancellor from 2003 until his retirement in 2007.

UPDATE 17.11

Liberal Conspiracy also have the story.

http://twitter.com/jamescowley/status/8550013799 James Cowley

RT @leftfootfwd: Osborne's climate gaffe: picture evidence http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN
http://twitter.com/colinstaniland/status/8550109723 Colin Staniland

RT @leftfootfwd: Osborne's climate gaffe: picture evidence http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN
http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/8550501985 Ben Cooper

RT @leftfootfwd: Osborne's climate gaffe: picture evidence http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN < Boy George has been a gift to Labour today!
http://twitter.com/gedrobinson/status/8550527189 Ged Robinson

RT @leftfootfwd: Osborne's climate gaffe: picture evidence http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN < superb captions
http://twitter.com/_jameslloyd/status/8551472529 James Lloyd

RT @leftfootfwd: Osborne's climate gaffe: picture evidence http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN
http://www.fullfact.org Patrick

What about the claim made by Osborne about Britain’s falling international standing on regulation and tax burden? (Falling from 4th to 84th/86th)

Have a blog post about it here http://fullfact.org/?p=235 but have been unable to get an answer back from CCHQ as yet…
Anon E Mouse

Will – it’s just a mistake surely?

Is this all Labour activists have on the Tories?

We’re going to get whacked at the end of March I think…
http://twitter.com/gsdog7/status/8552003765 gsdog7

Osborne's climate gaffe: picture evidence http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/jbevershed/status/8552610581 James Evershed

RT @bencooper86: RT @leftfootfwd: Osborne's climate gaffe: picture evidence http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN < Boy George has been a gift to Labour today!
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/02/02/osborne-red-faced-after-lord-stern-backs-away/ Liberal Conspiracy » Osborne red-faced after Lord Stern backs away

[...] Left Foot Forward illustrates how the gaffe played out on [...]
http://twitter.com/lolwhites/status/8555711088 Lolwhites

Osborne's climate gaffe | Left Foot Forward: http://bit.ly/9ors1R via @addthis
http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/8557516402 Ben Cooper

@MTPT http://bit.ly/dCGZZx http://bit.ly/brpx7D http://bit.ly/aYJ7HN http://bit.ly/bpXmD1
http://politicalscrapbook.net/2010/02/a-bad-24-hours-for-george-osborne/ A bad 24 hours for George Osborne | Political Scrapbook

[...] had to blog the reader-submitted graphic above – check out the times on the clock! Osborne claimed yesterday that Nicholas Stern would be advising the Tories on environmental policy before being summarily [...]
http://twitter.com/rich_w/status/8606690259 Rich Watts

Just noticed that Lord Stern hadn't agreed at all to advise the Tories on climate stuff. It was just a big fib. http://is.gd/7E5Lh