George spices up his entourage with Geri

When Tony Blair invited Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher to number 10 he was widely criticised by the Tories, who claimed that consorting with such people was beneath the dignity off his office. Tory chancellor George Osborne, however, appears to have no such qualms, having formed a friendship with Spice Girl Geri Halliwell (pictured).

"I got to know her when I sat next to her at a dinner for Unicef, for whom she is an ambassador," Osborne told the Mail. "We then went to Wimbledon together last summer and yes, of course, I was at the Spice Girl’s reunion concert."

And on Monday, Osborne, along with his wife Frances, attended a party to celebrate the launch of the pop star’s first children's book, held at London Zoo. He had a particular reason for being there, he said, because one of the characters in Ginger Spice’s book was named after his four-year old daughter Liberty.

Osborne's connection with Halliwell might prove useful come election time. Eleven years ago, the Spices revealed they were fans of Lady Thatcher in an interview in the Spectator. Perhaps they will now throw their lot in with David Cameron.