Commentary and analysis of recent UK politics events

Related: Over 1,000 cyclists stage die-in protest outside Transport for London HQ

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/12/george-osborne-becomes-first-senior-tory-criticise-boris-johnsons-iq-and-inequality

George Osborne has become the first senior Tory to distance himself from Boris Johnson’s remarks about IQ and inequality.

In a speech this week, the Mayor of London had said noted that 16 per cent of “our species” had an IQ of less than 85, and just two per cent of had an IQ of more than 130. Under such conditions, true equality was never possible, he said: “Indeed, some measure of inequality is essential for the spirit of envy and keeping up with the Joneses that is, like greed, a valuable spur to economic activity.”

On the Andrew Marr Show, Osborne said: “I would not have put it like that. I don’t agree with everything he said. I think there is actually increasingly common agreement across the political spectrum you can’t achieve equality of outcome, but you should be able to achieve equality of opportunity. You should give everyone, wherever they come from, the best chance, and, actually, education is the key to this.”

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I know someone who was cycling and ended up in the wheelarch of a London bus. The driver was very sorry and in shock. Luckily she wasn’t physically hurt.

It’s not all bad news. George Osborne’s family has a cute new puppy.