Osborne to face Tory activists over new job
GEORGE OSBORNE will this week be questioned by grassroots Conservatives in his constituency amid anger over his decision to accept the job of editor of the London Evening Standard.
The former chancellor is on Friday expected to attend the Tatton Conservative Association’s annual general meeting, where he is likely to face a hostile reception from some members.
Mr Osborne’s decision to take the job has prompted concern among some activists that he will not have
enough time to represent constituents.
The Daily Telegraph understands that he could even face a formal motion in coming months expressing concern over the conflict of interest between his MP duties and his Evening Standard role.
Don Hammond, chairman of the Tatton Conservative Association, said: “A number of constituents do have concerns, we have an AGM on Friday.
“He is a very talented MP and a good guy. There are
mixed views.” Christopher Gray, a local councillor, highlighted the fact that Mr Osborne will be paid significantly more to edit the Evening Standard than he receives as an MP.
He said: “He has been an extremely good MP for Tatton. I’m not quite sure he can continue in the same way he has done. There is a saying that he who pays the piper calls the tune.”
There are mounting fears in Downing Street that Mr Osborne will use his position as editor to criticise the Government over Brexit.
Tony Blair, who is campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU, yesterday praised the appointment and said it would make politics more “interesting”.
Nicky Morgan, a former education secretary who is campaigning against a hard Brexit, also praised the move and said Mr Osborne will be the “voice of the liberal Conservative Party”.
Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, yesterday became the most senior Tory to criticise Mr Osborne for taking the job.
The Conservative association grilling on Friday will come a day after the committee on standards in public life meets to discuss the appointment.
Lord Bew, the committee chairman, suggested it could decide to bar MPs from taking second jobs.
He told The Sunday Times: “We have not ruled out MPs having second jobs, quite deliberately, up until now but we now have to look again at the rules.
“We are going to discuss whether rules on second jobs need to be changed in light of this. We had something that up to a degree worked. Now it seems to be getting into rockier waters.”
MPs on the parliamentary committee on standards will also demand that the rules are tightened. Tommy Sheppard, an SNP member of the committee, said he wanted a rule barring second jobs of more than 20 hours a week.