George Osborne becomes editor of the Evening Standard and remains an MP!

[jeremyp]

I think the issue is that politicians' reputation are so bad.

I think making rules based on people's dislikes is a bad idea.

And I think showing there is no conflict of interest is almost impossible.

I don't.

Even if you have a fairly draconian definition of a conflict of interest, it's better to make the rules on that basis than  because people erroneously think all MPs are a bunch of scoundrels.

Anyway, it seems to me that being the editor of a high profile newspaper at the same time as being an active MP is a clear conflict of interest as well as being an impossible job - both are full time.

[jeremyp]

Houses of Parliament.

Are already in London, why would it be pointlessly expensive to stay there?

[Harrowby Hall]

Anyway, it seems to me that being the editor of a high profile newspaper at the same time as being an active MP is a clear conflict of interest as well as being an impossible job - both are full time.

Don't forget that the peculiar hours which the House of Commons sits is a hangover of the time when many MPs were barristers who appeared in court in the morning and the House in the afternoon. And as for conflict of interest, lawyers in the morning, legislators in the evening ...