Osborne forced to withdraw 'F' word outburst in Commons

Shadow chancellor George Osborne was pulled up and rebuked by the Speaker in the Commons today after using the "F" word in attacking the Chancellor's handling of pensions policy.

In furious question time exchanges, Mr Osborne urged Mr Brown to admit he had made "serious mistakes" in pensions policy.

"If he can't then surely the current Secretary of State for Pensions (John Hutton) is right - you'll make an effing awful Prime Minister."

Tories cheered in delight, but Speaker Michael Martin intervened to urge Mr Osborne to withdraw the remark.

"We must have temperate language inside this House. I don't care what's said outside the House but you should withdraw that remark," he said.

Mr Osborne responded: "I, of course, unreservedly withdraw the quote from the Secretary of State for Pensions."

The row erupted after Mr Brown had dubbed Tory tax commissions plans identifying £21 billion of tax cuts as "irresponsible, unfunded and reckless".

The Chancellor had also accused the Tories of planning to abolish consumer protection on mortgages, insurance and credit cards.

But he too was pulled up by the Speaker for straying too far into Tory policy instead on answering on his ministerial responsibilities.