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George Osborne to become editor of London Evening Standard George Osborne to become editor of London Evening Standard
(35 minutes later)
Former Chancellor George Osborne has been appointed editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper.Former Chancellor George Osborne has been appointed editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper.
The Conservative MP will succeed Sarah Sands, who is leaving to become editor of the BBC's Today programme. The Tory MP said he was "thrilled" to succeed Sarah Sands, who is leaving to edit the BBC's Today programme.
The BBC's media editor Amol Rajan said Mr Osborne intended to stay on as MP for Tatton, in Cheshire. The BBC's media editor Amol Rajan said Mr Osborne, who is to edit the paper four days a week, intended to stay on as MP for Tatton, in Cheshire.
The paper said Mr Osborne, who was sacked as chancellor after Theresa May became prime minister in July, would edit it "four days a week". But Mr Osborne is facing calls to quit politics altogether, with Jeremy Corbyn calling the appointment a "joke".
Labour MP John Mann said Mr Osborne - who was sacked as chancellor by Theresa May in July - was "pretending" to be an MP and becoming a full-time newspaper editor on top of being an MP "devalued Parliament".
The Standard's proprietor, Evgeny Lebedev, said Mr Osborne was "London through and through" and he was confident that the MP was "the right person to build on the fantastic legacy of Sarah Sands".The Standard's proprietor, Evgeny Lebedev, said Mr Osborne was "London through and through" and he was confident that the MP was "the right person to build on the fantastic legacy of Sarah Sands".
"I am proud to have an editor of such substance, who reinforces The Standard's standing and influence in London and whose political viewpoint - socially liberal and economically pragmatic - closely matches that of many of our readers," tweeted Mr Lebedev."I am proud to have an editor of such substance, who reinforces The Standard's standing and influence in London and whose political viewpoint - socially liberal and economically pragmatic - closely matches that of many of our readers," tweeted Mr Lebedev.
'Surprise''Surprise'
The newspaper said its schedule would enable Mr Osborne to "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".The newspaper said its schedule would enable Mr Osborne to "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".
Mr Osborne, who earlier addressed Standard journalists in the paper's news room, said it was a "great honour" to be asked to take charge of one of the UK's most influential newspapers.
He sought to play down concerns about his political neutrality, saying he would be "fearless" in speaking up for Londoner's interests.
"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," he said.
"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 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."
Rajan, a former editor of The Independent, which is also owned by Mr Lebedev, said the appointment was a "fantastic coup" for the newspaper but would "take a considerable amount of people by surprise".Rajan, a former editor of The Independent, which is also owned by Mr Lebedev, said the appointment was a "fantastic coup" for the newspaper but would "take a considerable amount of people by surprise".
He said it would be a "big challenge" for Mr Osborne to persuade his constituents in Cheshire that he could continue representing them.He said it would be a "big challenge" for Mr Osborne to persuade his constituents in Cheshire that he could continue representing them.
'Fake news''Fake news'
Patti Goddard, president of the Tatton Conservative Association, said it fully supported the former chancellor on his "exciting" career move, insisting it would not affect his reputation as a "hard-working" constituency MP.Patti Goddard, president of the Tatton Conservative Association, said it fully supported the former chancellor on his "exciting" career move, insisting it would not affect his reputation as a "hard-working" constituency MP.
Mr Osborne has been congratulated by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who said he would be covering the "world's greatest city". But Labour MP Paul Flynn criticised what he said was the "revolving door" between government and the private sector. Mr Osborne has been congratulated by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who said he would be covering the "world's greatest city". But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "It's taking multitasking to an extreme level - what a joke."
He said efforts by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments watchdog to stop former ministers from moving seamlessly into "lucrative" roles in other fields had proved "futile". And Labour MP Paul Flynn criticised what he said was the "revolving door" between government and the private sector.
But former Tatton MP Martin Bell said his first reaction to the announcement was that it "sounds like fake news to me", suggesting on BBC Radio 5 Live that the politician would have to be "superman" to combine his various roles. He said efforts by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments watchdog to stop former ministers from moving seamlessly into "lucrative" roles in other fields had proved "futile". Mr Osborne has said he will seek guidance from the watchdog before taking up the new role.
Former Tatton MP Martin Bell said his first reaction to the announcement was that it "sounds like fake news to me", suggesting on BBC Radio 5 Live that the politician would have to be "superman" to combine his various roles.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband joked on Twitter that he would "shortly be announced as editor of Heat magazine".
Since leaving frontline politics, the former chancellor has become a visiting fellow at a US university and an adviser to US fund manager BlackRock, for which he is being paid £650,000 for four days work a month.Since leaving frontline politics, the former chancellor has become a visiting fellow at a US university and an adviser to US fund manager BlackRock, for which he is being paid £650,000 for four days work a month.
Mr Osborne, who has been an MP since 2001 and was chancellor for six years will address staff at the newspaper later on Friday. It has a circulation of 850,000 to 900,000 copies a day, having become a free title in 2010.Mr Osborne, who has been an MP since 2001 and was chancellor for six years will address staff at the newspaper later on Friday. It has a circulation of 850,000 to 900,000 copies a day, having become a free title in 2010.
Mr Osborne had ambitions to be a journalist as a young man. He failed to get a place on The Times' trainee scheme after graduating from Oxford University in 1992 and was briefly a freelance reporter on the Daily Telegraph's diary column. Mr Osborne had ambitions to be a journalist as a young man. He failed to get a place on The Times' trainee scheme after graduating from Oxford University - at which he edited its Isis magazine - and was briefly a freelance reporter on the Daily Telegraph's diary column.