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

[Nearly Sane]

So there will obviously be lots of in depth investigation into the Tory election expenses scandal!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39304944

[Anchorman]

You couldn't make it up. (On the other hand, why change the habit of a lifetime - he IS the editor, after all.)

[Gordon]

Aside from the two jobs aspect I don't understand why this is notable - surely the London Evening Standard is relevant only to the London area, as opposed to those titles that are 'national' (Times, Guardian, Wail etc) - plus it is an evening paper.

Is this one of those 'if it matters in London then it matters for the rest of us' presumptions? 

[Nearly Sane]

Aside from the two jobs aspect I don't understand why this is notable - surely the London Evening Standard is relevant only to the London area, as opposed to those titles that are 'national' (Times, Guardian, Wail etc) - plus it is an evening paper.

Is this one of those 'if it matters in London then it matters for the rest of us' presumptions?

Well it's three jobs because he's also got a 650k a year job with Black Rock. The Evening Standard  has influential city pages so that looks to me a conflict of interest, as is the editor/MP role. If I was a constituent I would be insulted. If I was a journalist having an editor who was knocked back from journalism is a farce.

As for the rest of us, it's just another example of politicians sticking two fingers up at us. Many of those MPs who work hard for their constituency and in Parliament are also being laughed at by this. 

[Walter]

Well it's three jobs because he's also got a 650k a year job with Black Rock. The Evening Standard  has influential city pages so that looks to me a conflict of interest, as is the editor/MP role. If I was a constituent I would be insulted. If I was a journalist having an editor who was knocked back from journalism is a farce.

As for the rest of us, it's just another example of politicians sticking two fingers up at us. Many of those MPs who work hard for their constituency and in Parliament are also being laughed at by this.

exactly,
chuffin 'ell , I'm agreeing with you a lot recently , it must be the new medication 

[floo]

How in all conscience Osborne can serve his constituency in the North West, and be a newspaper editor in London at the same time beats me. He should do the decent thing and step down as an MP.

[Nearly Sane]

exactly,
chuffin 'ell , I'm agreeing with you a lot recently , it must be the new medication 

I am in favour of paying MPs more money but they can't then earn any side money. If they write a newspaper article any fee they would have received is sent to charity. If they get caught taking money, sacked and to the poky.
K

[Walter]

I am in favour of paying MPs more money but they can't then earn any side money. If they write a newspaper article any fee they would have received is sent to charity. If they get caught taking money, sacked and to the poky.
K

and again 

[Nearly Sane]

and again 

Oh and move the Parliament from London to a new office in Birmingham
, and build a block of flats nearby for the MPs to stay in. Don't spend 3 billion on the HoP making a building unfit for purpose slightly less unfit. Get rid of the Lords, create a much smaller secondary chamber definitely not appointed on politopal grounds or bribery.

[Aruntraveller]

Oh and move the Parliament from London to a new office in Birmingham
, and build a block of flats nearby for the MPs to stay in. Don't spend 3 billion on the HoP making a building unfit for purpose slightly less unfit. Get rid of the Lords, create a much smaller secondary chamber definitely not appointed on politopal grounds or bribery.

Before Walter gets in....and again! Except can you make it Nottingham instead of Birmingham - the local economy is in need of a bit of a boost and our property prices are lower making the provision of accom cheaper.

[Nearly Sane]

Before Walter gets in....and again! Except can you make it Nottingham instead of Birmingham - the local economy is in need of a bit of a boost and our property prices are lower making the provision of accom cheaper.

as long as it's central, don't care. And while we are at let's stop this HST2 nonsense and spend a third of it to get the best internet access in the world

[Robbie]

Don't see anything wrong with anMP having another job as long as they do their MP duties properly & if they don't, constituents can stop voting for them.

[Nearly Sane]

Don't see anything wrong with anMP having another job as long as they do their MP duties properly & if they don't, constituents can stop voting for them.

It is when done right a full time job and it creates by default a conflict of interest.

[Nearly Sane]

And as for Osborne


https://order-order.com/2017/03/17/8-huge-osborne-conflicts-of-interest/

[Harrowby Hall]

He will now have a platform from which he can undermine Theresa May ...




Apologies for mixing metaphors ...

[Robbie]

It looks as though he is shoring things up for when his constituency is scrapped and he will no longer be an MP.

[Nearly Sane]

It looks as though he is shoring things up for when his constituency is scrapped and he will no longer be an MP.

or ripping off the public with multiple conflicts of interest

[Nearly Sane]

Good article on what really is a shabby piece of corruption



https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/18/george-osborne-laughing-evening-standard-david-cameron?CMP=share_btn_tw

[Nearly Sane]

I note Tony Blair found nothing wrong with this when appearing on Andrew Marr this morning. Mmm...

[jeremyp]

I am in favour of paying MPs more money but they can't then earn any side money.

I don't see why not as long as

a) it is not a conflict of interest

b) it doesn't interfere with their duties as an MP.

I really don't see how an MP can be the editor of a daily newspaper at the same time. He has to be in the office every day to oversee publication. If I was his constituent, I'd be demanding for him to be fired as my MP. Parliament would be much improved if there was a provision to have a recall vote.

[jeremyp]

as long as it's central

London then.

[Nearly Sane]

I don't see why not as long as

a) it is not a conflict of interest

b) it doesn't interfere with their duties as an MP.

I really don't see how an MP can be the editor of a daily newspaper at the same time. He has to be in the office every day to oversee publication. If I was his constituent, I'd be demanding for him to be fired as my MP. Parliament would be much improved if there was a provision to have a recall vote.

I think the issue is that politicians' reputation are so bad. And I think showing there is no conflict of interest is almost impossible.

[Nearly Sane]

London then.

But pointlessly expensive.

[jeremyp]

But pointlessly expensive.

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

[Nearly Sane]

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

Houses of Parliament.