GEORGE Osborne has just illustrated why this is called “the silly season” by claiming the Conservatives are best placed to tackle poverty.

Perhaps the first version of his speech to Demos also included the following claims:

Jeremy Clarkson is best placed to manage cycling policy

John Redwood is best placed to organise the office Christmas party

Michael Gove is best placed to organise the stripper

Shami Chabrabarti is best placed to run Belmarsh prison

Alex Salmond is best placed to run the “Humility is Strength” workshop

Michael Moore is best placed to raise funds for W’s presidential library

Brian Haw is best placed to head the “Keep Parliament Square Tidy” taskforce

George Osborne is best placed to be the next Chancellor

Etc, etc…

Other suggestions welcome, but be warned: I will only publish those that I think are funny.