Former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Cheshire MP George Osborne claims he will continue to serve his Northern constituents whilst simultaneously editing the London Evening Standard.
Speaking at the official opening of the £192 million A556 Knutsford-Bowdon dual carriageway on Friday, Osborne was keen to draw parallels between the success of the project and his continuing commitment towards his Tatton constituents.
“This road here is an example of what I can deliver for local people,” he told MM.
“Whether it’s this road, or the Alderley Edge bypass, or saving the A&E ward of Macclesfield, I’m always fighting for local people.”
Mr. Osborne brushed off the charge that his newly appointed role editing one of the country’s largest newspapers for four days a week would impact on his ability to represent his voters some 200miles north of London.
#Osborne plants tree on Knutsford-Bowdon Green Bridge – many of his constituents would rather he calls a spade a spade over his Standard job pic.twitter.com/D1ZRHDDmZh
— Alexander Ritchie (@Alex_Ritchie1) March 24, 2017
He stressed to reporters that as a local MP, he would always work with local people to gets things done.
“Whether it’s as a constituency MP, or in Parliament fighting for the things I care about, or editing the Evening Standard, I’m going to go on fighting for a prosperous and successful United Kingdom.
Great to open officially the new A556 link road in Cheshire. People have campaigned for decades: we got it built #NorthernPowerhouse pic.twitter.com/9TsAS1eXgH
— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) March 24, 2017
“A successful Northern Powerhouse and a successful London are all part of a successful country.”
Mr. Osborne is under renewed pressure this week to explain his decision to accept the post, following the announcement that Parliament’s ethics watchdog is to review its guidance on MP’s second jobs.
Many are calling for affirmative action – almost 200,000 people have signed a petition on the website 38 Degrees which demands that Mr. Osborne chooses between resigning from his new role at the Evening Standard, or standing down as an MP.
Mr. Osborne is expected to attend the Tatton Conservative Association’s annual general meeting tonight, where he is likely to receive a mixed reception from Tory grassroots activists.
STAND AND DELIVER: Osborne poses with Knutsford-Bowdon dual carriageway workers at the official opening
