(Tory) George Osborne taunts openly gay Chris Bryant in House of Commons (with "pantomime dame" jibe

[Turborama]

Source: Pink Paper

Jamie Tabberer | Tuesday, December 21 2010

Openly gay British Labour party politician Chris Bryant was today subjected to what some would arguably call an anti-gay taunt - from George Osborne.

During a tongue in cheek exchange, the Conservative politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer called Bryant, the former Minister of State for Europe, a 'pantomime dame'.

He was in part responding to an earlier quip made my Bryant, the MP for Rhondda, who told Osborne that he should be more like 'Prince Charming' about the effect of government cuts.

Osborne replied: "Well, at least I'm not the pantomime dame!"

The incident occurred this morning in the House of Commons during the last Treasury questions before Christmas. Bryant later told the Press Association: "I don't think he would have said that phrase if I was not gay.

Read more: http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/4532/21/12/2010/george-osborne-taunts-openly-gay-chris-bryant-in-house-of-commons.aspx

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Video of the encounter, here: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Chancellor-George-Osborne-Accused-Of-Homophobia-Over-Pantomime-Dame-Joke-But-Aides-Deny-It/Article/201012315863923?lpos=Politics_First_Poilitics_Article_Teaser_Regi_1&lid=ARTICLE_15863923_Chancellor_George_Osborne_Accused_Of_Homophobia_Over_Pantomime_Dame_Joke_But_Aides_Deny_It

Pantomime Dame: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime_dame





Pantomime: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime

More images of Pantomime Dames: http://www.google.com/images?q=pantomime+dame&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=HyQRTcy5Es7trQer74z9Cw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=705



Chris Bryant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ George Osbourne

[AlbertCat]

1. Osborne replied: "Well, at least I'm not the pantomime dame!"

but...


Y'are, Blanche, y'are!


Sheesh! :eyes:

[closeupready]

2. How much you wanna bet he knows how to keep a wide stance?

:sarcasm:

[boppers]

3. Uhm, could one of our friends across the pond give more context?

"Baron Hardup"? "Pantomime Dame"?

This might as well be Cockney rhyming slang to me, the words don't make any sense.....

[Turborama]

4. Images for pantomime dames & a wiki...

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime_dame

Pantomime: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime

Images: http://www.google.com/images?q=pantomime+dame&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=HyQRTcy5Es7trQer74z9Cw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=705

(adding to the OP as well to help anyone else out who needs some bacground)

[boppers]

5. Thanks, it was a totally alien concept to this 'mericun.

I guess over-the-top drag is fodder for seasonal winter comedy plays in the UK (and other places)... huh.

Learn something new every day.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. 'Baron Hardup' and 'Prince Charming' are characters in the pantomime 'Cinderella'

A pantomime is a traditional Christmas-time comedy play, aimed largely at children, but with enough double entendres and young women in tight clothing to keep their dads entertained too (the 'Principal Boy' is played by a woman, as well as the romantic lead for them). Most have a storyline based on folk tales - Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots and so on. At least one of the major roles is the Pantomime Dame - a woman played by a man in drag, who is normally the lead comedian in the cast - a figure of fun, who gets the best lines. In Cinderella, you'd expect 2 Dames, playing the Ugly Sisters. While it's usually a part for an oldish stand-up comedian, more noted actors, such as Sir Ian McKellen, have played a Dame as well.

Bryant did rather invite a response like this by starting the Cinderella references. I can't tell from his intonation if Osborne was saying "Bryant is the Pantomime Dame" or "at least Bryant didn't call me the Pantomime Dame".

[Arkana]

8. I fart in your general direction!

[Arkana]

7. Flags change...the bigots stay the same.