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Budget 2017: Everyone Is Ripping Matt Hancock For His Baffling Tweet - Including Another Tory MP

What does that even mean?
Graeme Demianyk
By 

Senior Editor, HuffPost UK

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It was a Budget where the Conservative Party was looking to present a united front.

After a disastrous election and splits over Brexit, the annual financial update was the perfect opportunity for everyone to get their message straight.

This was Minister for Digital Matt Hancock’s attempt to put his shoulder to the wheel, complete with party-approved #firforthefuture hashtag.

Twitter

Except many people were confused by what he meant by saying he wanted to ‘halve’ the number. The number of tech businesses? Shurely shome mishtake?

One Tory grandee perhaps summed it up best ...

#whatonesrthdoesthatmean

— Nicholas Soames (@NSoames) November 22, 2017

And it inevitably spawned gifs ...

pic.twitter.com/Xb5NFachQC

— Alexandra (@AlexMcUK) November 22, 2017

pic.twitter.com/NFBXNdmuBe

— Robert Reed (@robertreed10) November 22, 2017

Most questioned the maths ...

Let’s hope he means “doubled”. https://t.co/KgYvYww4c2

— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) November 22, 2017

pic.twitter.com/Py4FksAuhn

— hrtbps (@hrtbps) November 22, 2017

The government wants to halve the number of new tech businesses founded each hour https://t.co/fVMzkSQBF6

— Owen Jones🌹 (@OwenJones84) November 22, 2017

Half a company every hour? Bit odd. https://t.co/0R7vtfkbhJ

— Stewart Wood (@StewartWood) November 22, 2017

You’re the government.

Proofread your tweets. https://t.co/A19pqNH2o3

— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) November 22, 2017

I know what you mean but this could be read as meaning one every two hours....#halved

— Alastair Stewart (@alstewitn) November 22, 2017

Some thought he may have a point ...

I'm sure Brexit will achieve that for you

— Ben Oliver (@thebenoliver) November 22, 2017

And many had the same reaction ...

Erm https://t.co/QVDZkkJR5J

— George Bowden (@georgebowden) November 22, 2017

Erm https://t.co/WGlPmmfN59

— Alan White (@aljwhite) November 22, 2017

Another Conservative perhaps said it better in a quote tweet ...

That is we want to see the rate of tech start-ups doubled. #greatambition #goodpolicy @MattHancock #Budget2017 https://t.co/NXwrFB0NRP

— Mark Fox (@MarkFoxNews) November 22, 2017
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