Updated 15 Oct 2015
Jeremy Corbyn may have vowed to lead the fight against Tory policies, but his constituents in Islington have found they have more in common with George Osborne than previously thought.
Islington North residents, who in May returned the subsequent Labour Leader to parliament with more than 60% of the vote, queued around the block after restaurant Byron, in neighbouring constituency Islington South and Finsbury, favoured by Chancellor George Osborne, decided to offer its burgers for a mere 25p.
The promotion was intended to raise money for One Feeds Two, a charity that provides school meals for children in poverty, but also showcased residents’ hunger for a good deal.
Byron, the nation-wide posh-burger chain founded by Old Etonian Tom Byng, came to widespread attention in 2013 after Osborne tweeted about snacking on a burger from the upper-class eaterie while working on that year’s budget.
Critics ridiculed the Oxford-educated Chancellor for spending upwards of £6 on a “poshburger”, when a cheeseburger from McDonalds costs only 99p.
Islington resident and Corbyn supporter Hannah, said sheepishly: “It’s a 25p burger, isn’t it? I don’t think that there’s a problem really… even if Osborne does like coming here.”
Others were a bit more awkward: Michael, a student in Islington, said “Now that I think about it, it is a little bit weird being here actually. I do really want a cheap burger, but it’s not great to be honest.”
Jeremy Corbyn looked unlikely to turn up to give the discounted burgers a try: he’s a vegetarian.
Picture by A Mouthful, Flickr
Byron is in Islington South and Finsbury, not in Islington North.
Thanks Alex, we have updated the article to make it clear that Byron is in Corbyn’s neighbouring constituency, Islington South and Finsbury.