GEORGE Osborne was unable to resist teasing the Scottish Nationalists and Labour in his first Budget speech since the battle over Scotland's future when he made reference to a somewhat older conflict - the Battle of Agincourt, the 600th anniversary of which falls this year.

 

In one of the more light-hearted moments of the Budget, the Chancellor ran the risk of raising opposition hackles when he quipped that the country could not let slip the anniversary without suitable commemoration.

"The Battle of Agincourt is, of course, celebrated by Shakespeare as a victory secured by a 'band of brothers'," noted Mr Osborne.

With a smirk, he told MPs: "It is also when a strong leader defeated an ill-judged alliance between the champion of a united Europe and a renegade force of Scottish Nationalists."

As members on both sides of the House laughed, the Chancellor added: "So it is well worth the £1m we will provide to celebrate it."

But one Westminster insider noted that the reference, just to enable the Chancellor some fun at his political opponents' expense, could prove to be one of the most expensive jokes in history given the £1m taxpayer bill.

Another suggested there were in fact no Scots at Agincourt.