The Evening Standard has announced the appointment of our MP George Osborne as its new Editor to succeed Sarah Sands.
The former Chancellor of the Exchequer will take up his role as editor in early May.
The Standard's says its schedule will enable Mr Osborne to edit the paper and continue to fulfil his other commitments, including as an MP; giving him the time to vote and contribute in Parliament in the afternoon after the paper has gone to print, and be in his constituency. He will edit the paper an average of four days a week.
George Osborne said: "This is such an exciting and challenging job and I'm thrilled to take it on. The Evening Standard is a great paper, testimony to the hard work of Sarah Sands and the impressive team, and to the investment of its owners. I look forward to working with, learning from and leading this team of dedicated professionals.
"Growing up as a Londoner, I've always known that the Evening Standard is an institution that plays a huge part in the life of the city and its people. Now it is a great honour that I can play a part as leader of the editorial team making the Evening Standard the definitive voice of the world's most exciting city.
"I am proud to be a Conservative MP, but as editor and leader of a team of dedicated and independent journalists, our only interest will be to give a voice to all Londoners. We will be fearless as a paper fighting for their interests. We will judge what the government, London's politicians and the political parties do against this simple test: is it good for our readers and good for London? If it is, we'll support them. If it isn't we'll be quick to say so.
"So much is now at stake about the future of our country and its capital city. I will remain in Parliament, where that future is debated. I was elected by my constituents in Tatton to serve them and I intend to fulfil that promise. I remain passionate about the Northern Powerhouse and will continue to promote that cause. Right from the first speech I gave about the North of England, I've said that London needs a successful north and the north benefits from its links to a global city like London. It's not a zero-sum game, but quite the opposite."
Evening Standard proprietor, Evgeny Lebedev said: "In George, we have appointed someone of huge political achievement, and economic and cultural authority. Once he put himself forward for the position, he was the obvious choice. I am proud to have an Editor of such substance, who reinforces the Evening Standard's standing and influence in London and whose political viewpoint - liberal on social issues and pragmatic on economic ones - closely matches those of many of our readers."
Patti Goddard, President of the Tatton Conservative Association, said "It's exciting that George has got this new big role in our public life. We in the Tatton Conservatives fully support him. He's a hard-working constituency MP. In the last couple of weeks alone he's being working with local schools on their concerns about the funding formula, and dealing with some tricky constituency cases. The fact he's editing the Standard in the weekday mornings won't affect that at all - after all, being Chancellor was a 24/7 job."
As required of former ministers, Mr Osborne is seeking the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments on his appointment.
Comments
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We really are not worth his time here in Tatton
He has spent so much time in London he seems to think Tatton is an outlying suburb of London.
By all means move on to another career, but don't pretend you can work for us as well.
I've read about this "Gig" economy thing where people have to have at least three jobs in order to survive.
George feels our pain!
Shameful stuff
He timed his announcement to coincide with Theresa May's speech at the conference so the news would all be about HIM and he could upstage her !
He's more of a Traitor than a Tory.
It's his way of getting back at the PM for sacking him.
The sooner we're rid of this loser, the better.
He timed his announcement to coincide with Theresa May's speech at the conference so the news would all be about HIM and he could upstage her !
He's more of a Traitor than a Tory.
It's his way of getting back at the PM for sacking him.
The sooner we're rid of this loser, the better.
George Osborne has stated clearly that he will spend his mornings at the Evening Standard and his afternoons at the Palace of Westminster. Where in all that does the constituency of Tatton fit?
It doesn't, does it? George Osborne is an arrogant, greedy selfservative. Time to go George. Tatton deserves better than you.
This man is stealing from us and Patti Goddard is holding open his swag bag!
What a disgraceful bunch they are, locally and nationally. The electorate deserve better.
Is it me?
Well you better resign then Mr Osborne as you care so little for Tatton
Sorry the Right Honorable ....
Time for people to take action ...
He says that he never worked harder than in his four years as Independent Tatton MP and finds it inconceivable that George Osborne can continue to be a fully functional constituency MP.
He also pointed out that, despite Tatton being regarded as a safe Conservative seat, the people of Tatton have not been slow to shift Conservative MPs when they sense injustice. Osborne would be the third since the constituency was formed in 1983
He did it with his Blackrock appointment and now he's done it again.
Before any MP can take these outside appointments, they must seek approval from the Advisory Committee On Business Appointments (ACOBA)
They have stated he only submitted his application last Monday and not yet given their approval.
It was the same with Blackrock.
This man has no shame and can't even abide by official rules.
No wonder Theresa May sacked him !
Not only that, here's a sitting backbench Tory MP who has gone on record as saying he will oppose anything this Tory Government does that he doesn't agree with ,,,,,,,,
How can that be ?
How can a sitting Tory MP make stinging comments about his own Government whilst Editor of a London newspaper ?
How disgraceful.
Because of the obvious conflicts of interest at present and apparent personal ambitions of the sitting MP, an immediate resignation and a quick by election will be in the best interest of most stakeholders.
On a personal note, I wish George and his family all the best for the future.