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Budget 2013: Was Chancellor George Osborne's PPS Drafted In For 'Gender Balance' On Downing Street?

The 2013 All Male Treasury Minister Line-Up
Christopher York
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It appears that something was missing from the traditional pre-Budget ministerial photo op in front of Downing Street on Wednesday.

A woman.

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The all male minister line up - plus a PPS

A feature of every Budget, the photo of the chancellor holding the ubiquitous red briefcase, is usually only reserved for ministers.

This year, however, there are no female ministers working in the Treasury so Amber Rudd, Osborne's parliamentary private secretary (PPS) appears to have been drafted in for some 'gender balance'.

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Last year, Osborne's PPS was not included in the photo. Then again, last year, Chloe Smith was the economic secretary to the Treasury.

SEE ALSO:

Budget 2013
The Longest Ever Budget Speech(01 of10)
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William Gladstone delivered an epic Budget speech in 1853 that lasted four hours and 45 minutes. He was fuelled by a mixture of egg and sherry which he sipped throughout. (credit:Getty Images)
Alcohol In The Commons Chamber(02 of10)
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A Chancellor of the Exchequer delivering his Budget is the only person permitted to take alcohol into the Commons Chamber. (credit:Getty Images)
Winston Churchill(03 of10)
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Winston Churchill preferred to drink brandy when delivering his Budgets. (credit:AP)
First Televised Budget(04 of10)
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Thankfully, Gladstone's almost five hour Budget was not televised. That began back in 1990 with John Major's first and only speech.Nice glasses John...
The Very Old Briefcase (05 of10)
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George Osborne's first Budget speech also marked the last appearance of the famous battered old red briefcase. The Parliamentary stalwart was made for Gladstone way back in 1860 and had become too fragile to use. It is now displayed in the Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall. (credit:PA)
The Snappy Dresser(06 of10)
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Labour MP, Leo Abse, was known for his flamboyant dress sense and used to get suits specially tailored for the Budget. Here he is on Budget Day, 1969. (credit:PA)
A Dog Named Budget(07 of10)
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Chancellor of the Exchequer from '79-'83, Sir Geoffrey Howe, named his dog "Budget".Not a word of a lie.Here he is with Budget and his wife, Elspeth. (credit:PA)
The Budget One-Liner(08 of10)
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Not known for their humour, Chancellor Derick Heathcoat-Amory, managed the near impossible with the line:
"There are three things not worth running for - a bus, a woman or a new economic panacea. If you wait a bit, another one will come along.''
In 1960, Heathcoat-Amory collapsed mid-speech. (credit:PA)
The Budget That Never Was(09 of10)
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Tory Iain Macleod, is the only Chancellor to have not delivered a speech, dying shortly after his appointment. (credit:PA)
What's In The Briefcase, Norman?(10 of10)
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You'd be forgiven for thinking the old Gladstone briefcase in this picture contained Norman Lamont's 1993 Budget speech, but you'd be wrong.It actually contained a bottle of whisky while an aide, by the name of William Hague (yes, that one) carried the speech to the chamber.Hague later said of the incident: "It would have been a major disaster if the bag had fallen open."Indeed. (credit:PA)
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