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George Osborne appointed editor of London Evening Standard George Osborne facing calls to quit as MP over Evening Standard job
(about 2 hours later)
George Osborne has been made the new editor of the London Evening Standard, in an appointment that has astonished politicians and media-watchers alike. George Osborne came under growing pressure to step down as Tory MP for Tatton in Cheshire, after his surprise appointment as the editor of the London Evening Standard.
Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the daily paper, announced the news on Twitter, saying he was “thrilled” and describing the Cheshire MP as “London through and through”. Osborne, who has no significant journalistic experience, intends to continue as MP for Tatton. Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the paper, announced the news on Twitter on Friday, saying he was “thrilled” and describing him as “London through and through” while Osborne said he intended to remain as an MP.
The former chancellor described his new job as a “huge honour”, adding that he was “proud to be a Conservative MP” but that as the paper’s editor, “our only interest will be to give a voice to all Londoners”. Some Conservatives questioned whether he could represent his constituents effectively while editing a daily paper on top of string of lucrative jobs. Others speculated that the aim of the former chancellor was to undermine Theresa May, both in the timing of the announcement and when he runs the paper.
He added: “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.” Nigel Adams, the Tory MP for Selby and Ainsty, said Osborne should consult his constituents over whether he could continue as an MP. “It is one thing writing a column for a newspaper, it is another being its full-time editor,” he told the Guardian on Friday.
But the news provoked criticism from Labour and some Conservatives, who said the job was incompatible with Osborne’s role as an MP. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, described the appointment as “a joke” and “yet another example of the establishment revolving door, a closely knit clique who are holding back the British people … [it] is an insult to the electors he is supposed to serve. We are looking forward to an early byelection so the people of Tatton are properly served in parliament.” A number of other Conservative MPs, who declined to be named, expressed their unease about the appointment.
Osborne is already paid £650,000 a year in his position at fund manager BlackRock. He has earned £800,000 for 15 speaking engagements in the last year, collects a £120,000 a year stipend from a US thinktank and has a book deal on top of his £75,000 MP’s salary.
In a statement, the former chancellor – who has no significant journalistic experience – said: “I was elected by my constituents in Tatton to serve them and I intend to fulfil that promise.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, described the appointment as “a joke” and “yet another example of the establishment revolving door, a closely knit clique who are holding back the British people … [it] is an insult to the electors he is supposed to serve. We are looking forward to an early byelection so the people of Tatton are properly served in parliament.”
It's taking multitasking to an extreme level - what a joke https://t.co/m4a6GWwVnJIt's taking multitasking to an extreme level - what a joke https://t.co/m4a6GWwVnJ
Nigel Adams, the Tory MP for Selby and Ainsty, said Osborne should consult his constituents over whether he could continue as an MP. The Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, described the appointment as “quite incredible news and an amazing coup for Lebedev. At least the paper should move to the left now.”
“It is one thing writing a column for a newspaper, it is another being its full-time editor,” he told the Guardian. But Tory MP James Duddridge said Osborne was more than capable of doing both jobs. “I hope to get better coverage in the Evening Standard now he is editor,” he joked. “MPs have historically had outside jobs. If he can combine being an MP with running the economy he should manage editing a local paper.”
In his statement, Osborne said: “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.” Speaking to Lebedev-owned TV channel London Live, Osborne, who will take up his post in May, said the role would be compatible with his duties as an MP. “Of course this paper is edited primarily in the morning, parliament votes in the afternoon crucially though people need to know this,” he said. A statement issued by the Evening Standard said he will edit the daily paper on average four days a week.
The former chancellor described his new job as a “huge honour”, adding that as the paper’s editor, “our only interest will be to give a voice to all Londoners”.
He added: “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.”
Addressing Standard staff shortly after noon on Friday, Osborne told them he would need their help: “I may have run a country, but I’ve never run a newspaper.”Addressing Standard staff shortly after noon on Friday, Osborne told them he would need their help: “I may have run a country, but I’ve never run a newspaper.”
The appointment was greeted by staff with a mixture of “shock, incredulity and hilarity”, an insider said. “It’s slowly sinking in, the madness of it all, with some saying it may not be so mad after all.” Another said Osborne’s expectation that he could do the job and continue as an MP “just shows the contempt he has for the newspaper, that he thinks being an editor is a part-time basis, that’s the real scandal”. An executive at the paper described the appointment as “hilarious”. Staff greeted the appointment with a mixture of “shock, incredulity and hilarity”, according to an insider. “It’s slowly sinking in, the madness of it all, with some saying it may not be so mad after all.” Another said Osborne’s expectation that he could do the job and be an MP “just shows the contempt he has for the newspaper, that he thinks being an editor is a part-time basis, that’s the real scandal”.
The newspaper said its publication 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.” The newspaper said its publication schedule “will enable Mr Osborne to edit the paper and continue to fulfil his other commitments, including as an MP”. A statement also noted that “as required of former ministers, Mr Osborne is seeking the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments on his appointment”.
He will edit the paper on average four days a week, the statement said. It also noted that “as required of former ministers, Mr Osborne is seeking the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments on his appointment”.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, congratulated Osborne on his new job, tweeting:The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, congratulated Osborne on his new job, tweeting:
Congratulations to @George_Osborne - the new editor of the @EveningStandard. Covering the world's greatest city #LondonIsOpenCongratulations to @George_Osborne - the new editor of the @EveningStandard. Covering the world's greatest city #LondonIsOpen
But Andy Burnham, the Labour candidate to become mayor of Greater Manchester, said that while he wished Osborne well “it is hard to see how he can continue as a north-west MP”. “Our region is entering a crucial period and we need all of its representatives to be completely focused on it,” he said.
The Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, described the appointment as “quite incredible news and an amazing coup for Lebedev. At least the paper should move to the left now.”
Downing Street was caught off guard by the announcement, which coincided with the morning briefing to reporters. “I’m unaware of it,” Theresa May’s spokesman said. “You’ll be able to tell that this is the first I’m hearing of this.” Asked later whether the prime minister thought Osborne could continue as an MP, a No 10 source said: “I have no comment to make.”Downing Street was caught off guard by the announcement, which coincided with the morning briefing to reporters. “I’m unaware of it,” Theresa May’s spokesman said. “You’ll be able to tell that this is the first I’m hearing of this.” Asked later whether the prime minister thought Osborne could continue as an MP, a No 10 source said: “I have no comment to make.”
Ryan Shorthouse, director of the Conservative thinktank Bright Blue, said Osborne should resign as an MP. “A free press, which holds power to account, is a fundamental part of a liberal democracy,” he said. “A sitting MP, especially of the governing party, cannot also be an editor of an influential and national newspaper. It is a significant conflict of interest and unethical.” Patti Goddard, president of the Tatton Conservative Association, said Osborne had their full support. “He’s a hard-working constituency MP … The fact he’s editing the Evening Standard in the weekday mornings won’t affect that at all – after all, being chancellor was a 24/7 job.”
However, Patti Goddard, president of the Tatton Conservative Association, said Osborne had their full support. “He’s a hard-working constituency MP … The fact he’s editing the Evening Standard in the weekday mornings won’t affect that at all – after all, being chancellor was a 24/7 job.” Before his latest appointment, Osborne – who moved to the backbenches after May sacked him following the Brexit vote – already faced sharp criticism for taking on a series of highly lucrative jobs alongside his parliamentary role. As Standard editor, he will follow in the footsteps of Sarah Sands, who helmed the paper from 2012 and has been appointed the new editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Osborne, 45, who became chancellor in 2010 and was a key figure behind the coalition government’s austerity programme, was sacked by May following the Brexit vote. Unlike David Cameron, however, he opted to remain in parliament.
He has faced sharp criticism for taking on a series of highly lucrative jobs alongside his parliamentary role, including a contract with the US fund manager BlackRock that will earn him £650,000 a year for one day’s work a week.
Over the past six months, Osborne has also earned almost £800,000 for 15 speeches. And he collects a £120,000 a year “stipend” from a US Republican thinktank, and received an estimated £100,000 advance for his book, Age of Unreason. In addition, he receives an annual dividend of £44,000 from his family’s wallpaper business, Osborne & Little, on top of his £75,000 salary as MP for Tatton.
Lebedev said: “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. George is London through and through and I am confident he is the right person to build on the fantastic legacy of Sarah Sands.”
Sands, who edited the paper from 2012, has been appointed the new editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
As a young graduate, Osborne hoped to pursue a career in journalism, but in 1993, he failed to get a place on the Times’s trainee scheme, and settled instead for freelance work on the Daily Telegraph’s Peterborough diary column, before becoming a researcher at Conservative central office.As a young graduate, Osborne hoped to pursue a career in journalism, but in 1993, he failed to get a place on the Times’s trainee scheme, and settled instead for freelance work on the Daily Telegraph’s Peterborough diary column, before becoming a researcher at Conservative central office.
Journalists also reacted with astonishment to the news. Andrew Neil, the BBC presenter and former editor of the Sunday Times, tweeted: “My threshold for being shocked just rose a little more: George Osborne new Editor of Evening Standard. And it’s not even fake news.” He added: Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, captured some of the widespread incredulity about Osborne’s new job, tweeting:
Mr Osborne advises Black Rock for huge fee. Where does this leave the Standard's City Pages?
Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, captured some of the widespread incredulity, tweeting:
Breaking: I will shortly be announced as editor of Heat magazine....Breaking: I will shortly be announced as editor of Heat magazine....