Gransnet forums

News & politics

George Osborne

(155 Posts)
daphnedill Fri 17-Mar-17 12:13:00

Apparently George Osborne has a new job as editor of the London Evening Standard, in addition to his £600,000pa job as a fund manager adviser. He says he's going to stay on as an MP.

Where's the man in a white suit? It seems that, with Neil Hamilton as ex-MP, Tatton doesn't have the best of luck with its MPs.

Isn't it a bit greedy to have three jobs when some people can't even find one? hmm

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 17:28:30

It sounds like the commons are going to have to change the rules because they did not envisage anything like this. The committee on standards does not see how being an editor can be classed as a second job.

whitewave Sun 19-Mar-17 17:31:56

Yes I heard that dj wonder which he'll opt for, my bet would be the editorship. He can serve revenge so much better from that post rather than the back benches.

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 18:14:14

Also Tatton will probably disappear when the boundaries are changed.
Can't imagine the residents being pleased to have a part time MP until 2020, though.

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 18:16:57

I suppose if May calls an early election, that will get rid of his problem, won't it? His pay as an MP must be the least of all his jobs. He doesn't get paid for Northern Powerhouse job, but he'll give that up as well. How can he do that and represent London?

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 18:23:30

There is a register of interests for journalists in the commons. I wonder if Osborne will have to list his conflict of interests as being an MP.

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 19:51:08

Peter Preston putting Osborne in his place.
www.theguardian.com/media/2017/mar/19/george-osborne-not-fake-news-just-fake-editor-evening-standard

It shows how little Osborne and Lebedev know about editing a newspaper.

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 20:02:56

"The fundamental job of any free press is to hold power to account. This recruitment blows that idea out of the water. How will the London Evening Standard scrutinise a government when it’s run by a man who less than a year ago was its de facto number two – and who remains an MP for the ruling party? In the financial capital of the world, how much credibility will the Standard’s City pages command when their ultimate editor is in the pay of a giant fund manager? And how is journalism ever going to become an industry that represents its audience if one of its plum jobs can be lobbed by the son of a Russian oligarch into the lap of a public schoolboy who has never subbed, reported or edited? "

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 22:46:24

167,000+ signatures now.

daphnedill Sun 19-Mar-17 23:11:05

Zoe Williams' view of Osborne's appointment:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/19/george-osborne-brexit-chancellor-evening-standard-metropolitan-elite

I think she could be right. Osborne isnb't doing the job for the money, but for the influence.

daphnedill Sun 19-Mar-17 23:26:13

Lebedev (Junior) is a strange character. He has actually done some serious journalism. He also allows his editors to have considerable freedom. The Evening Standard's journalism is no longer what it once was, but it has done some serious campaigning on London's homelessness. Lebedev also owns the Independent.

However, he does invite some interesting people to his garden parties.

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 23:33:28

Zoe Williams was right about Blair, too. I was so confused at the end, I had no idea what he was supposed to be supporting.

durhamjen Sun 19-Mar-17 23:36:00

Didn't Murdoch sit in on that interview between Gove and trump, too?

Ginny42 Mon 20-Mar-17 08:26:48

Did you clock Farage's shoes in DD's photo?

Ginny42 Mon 20-Mar-17 08:45:58

Very interesting article by Zoe Williams, especially in the hundred's of comments following it. Amused by one which said, How's George going to manage it all with Strictly coming up?

Have said before on GN that Blair speaks sense to me. I'm just saying that I'm not going to chuck out the message because of who's delivering it. In my view it should be Corbyn, but hey ho, he's not going to.

durhamjen Mon 20-Mar-17 08:49:01

What confused me is that Blair seems to be setting up a company to research into himself.

daphnedill Mon 20-Mar-17 08:49:10

Ginny Yes, I did. I've forgotten who made them, but one paper claimed they cost £295. Mmmm...classy (not). Lebedev's shoes are a bit strange too. Murdoch is the only one with normal shoes.

durhamjen Mon 20-Mar-17 08:51:18

Hope they are not Doc Marten's. I'll never be able to buy them for my granddaughters again!

daphnedill Mon 20-Mar-17 08:51:20

Arsenal might need a new manager soon, too, unless Paul Nuttall gets the job.grin

durhamjen Mon 20-Mar-17 08:53:17

He's as qualified for it as Osborne.
Lebedev has done a brilliant job of upsetting journalists everywhere. Trump should take some lessons from him.

rosesarered Mon 20-Mar-17 09:54:43

Quirky footwear is a sign of individuality, Lebedev and Farage are demonstrating that they don't need to fit in with the crowd.

rosesarered Mon 20-Mar-17 09:56:57

DD1 used to wear bright blue Doc Martens when a rebellious teenager.....but I liked them, so she soon reverted to normal footwear.

Penstemmon Mon 20-Mar-17 21:19:03

Umm! DMs are normal footwear in our family grin

rosesarered Mon 20-Mar-17 21:21:36

grin

JackieBee1 Mon 20-Mar-17 22:13:58

Mhairi Black is a star. She is a huge supporter of WASPI and talks a lot of sense.

durhamjen Tue 21-Mar-17 22:29:14

kittysjones.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/politics-and-insights-condemns-george-osbornes-appointment-to-the-evening-standard-in-joint-independent-media-statement/