George Osborne's "shock" upon discovering that some of the wealthiest people in the country pay "virtually no" income tax has been greeted by a mutual shudder of disbelief.
The chancellor's admission of surprise at the tax loophole was seen to be simply, well, shocking, a feeling felt most strongly among those members of the public not furnished with a couple of million pounds and an aggressive accountant.
Osborne's ignorance of a disparity that seemed obvious to many has sparked something of a Twitter storm, with many users of the social media site offering other things the Chancellor of the Exchequer might also find shocking. That the Pope is a Catholic for example.
Never one to miss out on a Twitter hashtag poking fun the Tories, John Prescott and his army of Twitter followers have begun to mock an astounded Osborne with the hashtag #shockosbourne.
Although some of the suggestions are rather puerile (bears don't defecate in woods etc), others have stressed dissatisfaction at benefit cuts for the disabled and tax avoidance.
Are you shocked over the shocking news that Osborne is shocked that millionaires pay 'virtually no' income tax? Leave your thoughts over what could be more shocking in the comments below: