George Osborne has defended his controversial decision to take the Evening Standard editorship by telling his Tatton constituents there has been a "long tradition" of politics and journalism mixing, in an open letter published on Wednesday (22 March).

The former Chancellor, 45, even compared himself to Brexit rival Boris Johnson as he promised to keep up the hard work in his Greater Manchester seat.

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"Now I have left Downing Street I want to continue to take part in the debate about the future direction of our country," Osborne wrote in the Knutsford Guardian.

"No longer being Chancellor gives me time to do that in other ways – yes, in the Chamber of the House of Commons; but also as the editor of a major newspaper, the Evening Standard.

"There is a long tradition of politics and journalism mixing. One of the greatest newspaper editors ever, CP Scott, combined editing the Manchester Guardian with being an MP. In our age, politicians from Iain Macleod and Richard Crossman to, of course, Boris Johnson have combined the role of editor and Member of Parliament."

Osborne also stressed that he will be in Manchester this week to promote his Northern Powerhouse initiative, which is calling for more powers to be devolved from Westminster to the region.

"Nothing has greater potential to improve the opportunities for the future in this area than that Northern Powerhouse," he said.

"I believe this diversity of experience makes our Parliament stronger. I hope you agree and I look forward to continuing to hear what you have to say and to work with you on the problems we face and the great future we can all build."

Petition Calls for George Osborne to ‘pick one job’
Petition calls for George Osborne to 'pick one job'

Osborne is set to succeed current Evening Standard editor Sarah Sands in May. The appointment by proprietor Evgeny Lebedev has been met with a backlash, not least because Osborne is also £650,000 ($810,056) per year adviser to investment firm BlackRock.

"George Osborne's appointment as editor of the Evening Standard is yet another example of the establishment revolving door, a closely knit clique who are holding back the British people," a spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn told IBTimes UK.

"The appointment makes a mockery of the independence of the media. It takes multitasking to a new level and is an insult to the electors he is supposed to serve. We are looking forward to an early by-election so the people of Tatton are properly served in Parliament."

Full open letter

"After all that you have read over the recent days about my new role as editor of the Evening Standard, I want to talk directly to you, my constituents.

"It is the greatest honour to be your Member of Parliament, elected by you to represent our community here in Cheshire and take part in the national debate about the great issues Britain faces.

"For sixteen years I have done that - thanks to your growing support at each election - and with your help we have achieved some major successes. We've stopped the closure of the A&E Department at Macclesfield District Hospital, not once but twice.

We've got the Alderley Edge bypass built, after people had been trying for 70 years. We've improved the direct train services, got great new facilities for our academy schools, and brought new businesses and new jobs to the area. Throughout that time I've been able to help countless local people privately with their individual problems in the surgeries I've held and the efforts of my hard-working team in the office.

"For almost all of those sixteen years, I have also held prominent positions in the public life of the country. For five years I was Shadow Chancellor.

For these last six years I was Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was a real privilege to hold one of the great offices of state but it is also one of the most demanding jobs in the country - working dawn to dusk, and on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Throughout that time I was there for you as your local MP.

"Now I have left Downing Street I want to continue to take part in the debate about the future direction of our country. No longer being Chancellor gives me time to do that in other ways - yes, in the Chamber of the House of Commons; but also as the editor of a major newspaper, the Evening Standard. There is a long tradition of politics and journalism mixing.

One of the greatest newspaper editors ever, CP Scott, combined editing the Manchester Guardian with being an MP. In our age, politicians from Iain Macleod and Richard Crossman to, of course, Boris Johnson have combined the role of editor and Member of Parliament.

"Meanwhile the hard work in the constituency continues unaffected. Take this week alone. I've been helping the schools in Cheshire get a fairer deal out of the proposed new funding formula.

I'll be helping to officially open the new A556 link road - badly needed for decades, yet only delivered now because of my campaign and our collective hard work. I'll be at the opening of another new business here, speaking at a fundraising dinner for a great local charity and holding my regular constituency surgery. It is all in a week's work as your MP.

"I will also be in Manchester to promote our efforts to build the Northern Powerhouse - a concept I launched two years ago and which it is one of my jobs now to promote through the new partnership we have created. Nothing has greater potential to improve the opportunities for the future in this area than that Northern Powerhouse.

"I believe this diversity of experience makes our Parliament stronger. I hope you agree and I look forward to continuing to hear what you have to say and to work with you on the problems we face and the great future we can all build.

"Best wishes, George"

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