George Bush loses close run for "Foot in Mouth"

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - Former England football manager Steve McClaren fought off tough competition from U.S. President George W. Bush to win a dreaded "Foot in Mouth" award on Tuesday from the Plain English campaign.

He was hailed for a supreme example of gobbledegook in talking about star player Wayne Rooney: "He is inexperienced but he's experienced in terms of what he's been through."

George W. Bush came second for "All I can tell you is that when the governor calls, I answer his phone."

Plain English Campaign spokesman Ben Beer told Reuters: "We thought it was a bit obvious to honour Bush as he comes up with them every day."

Every year, the pressure group hands out a raft of awards mocking incomprehensible jargon in a battle to clear the linguistic fog that so often envelops the English language.

McClaren, fired as manager after the team failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 championships, is in distinguished company - past winners include model Naomi Campbell, actor Richard Gere and former U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

There is never a shortage of entrants sent in by people baffled by bureaucratic language and befuddled legalese.

"We get 40 to 50 examples a week, mostly from British documents. The media, including advertising and marketing, is riddled with insider jargon," Beer told Reuters.