LONDON – Politics can be hard on the ego, as British Treasury chief George Osborne learned when President Barack Obama apparently forgot his name at this week’s G-8 summit.

Britain’s Sun and Financial Times newspapers reported Thursday that Obama repeatedly referred to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as “Jeffrey” — and later apologized, saying he had been thinking of soul singer Jeffrey Osborne.

Jeffrey Osborne, whose hits include “On the Wings of Love,” said he was delighted the president was a big fan.

He added, “Tell the chancellor when I come over I will have to hook up with him and we will do a duet.”

George Osborne, who changed his name from Gideon as a teenager, tweeted: “One unexpected breakthrough from G8 — offer to sing with legend.”