Can six-jobs George find time to fight for his seat?

GEORGE Osborne remained silent last night as speculation mounted over his future as both an MP and newspaper editor.

The former chancellor has yet to confirm whether he will defend his Cheshire seat in elections on June 8.

But the announcement of a snap poll is awkward timing for the politician, who is due to take the helm at the London Evening Standard next month.

If he decides to stand, the former cabinet minister would have to divide his time between defending his seat and remaining in London to edit the paper – along with four other job roles.

There are also questions over which way the Standard will lean as Theresa May sacked the former chancellor when she became Prime Minister. Pressure on Mr Osborne grew last night as MPs demanded to know how he would edit a newspaper while fighting for his seat.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries said: ‘George Osborne must be a miracle worker to be able to edit a newspaper in London and campaign for his seat in Cheshire.

‘I can’t get my head round the logistics of taking on that job whilst doing a seven-day-a-week job fighting for your seat.

‘I don’t understand how he can split himself in two.’ Mr Osborne has a large majority in his Tatton seat, which is set to be abolished in a forthcoming boundary review.

But although the leading Remainer has 58.6 per cent of the vote, some 51.2 per cent of his constituents voted to leave the EU. However, he has the support of his local Conservative Association, who endorsed his editorship of the Standard last month. Meanwhile, his decision to take on five jobs since leaving the Cabinet has provoked a furious backlash in Westminster.

He defended his roles in Parliament last month, telling MPs that Parliament was ‘enhanced’ by having people of different experience.

The former chancellor now faces up to five investigations into the string of lucrative positions that have made him one of the highest earners in the Commons.

The MP earns £76,000-a-year representing his 65,000 constituents in Tatton. From next month, he will edit the Evening Standard four days a week.

As a consultant for leading US investment firm BlackRock, he earns £650,000 a year for working one day a week. He has also taken an estimated £120,000-a-year academic position at the Arizonabased McCain Institute for International Leadership.

He remains an unpaid chairman in charge of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, a body aimed at creating jobs in the north of England. His regular speeches to banks and other city institutions have made him close to £1million since leaving Number 11. Twitter users also mocked the former chancellor following the announcement of the election yesterday.

J Durrant said: ‘Very quiet from George Osborne today... must be busy with his other well paid editorial jobs... how “safe” is Tatton?’

Billy Tweddell wrote: ‘ Surely he’ll have to stand down as an MP now? How will he survive with just the five jobs?’

Terence Dackombe added: ‘ Our hearts should be with poor George Osborne facing the challenge of standing for a seat in Cheshire whilst editing London Evening Standard.’ And Jane Symons wrote: ‘I hope the constituents of Tatton tell George Osborne they want a full-time MP.’

‘How can he split himself in two?’