ES photo
By
Hazel Speed
Recently, I wrote a piece on George Osborne – What is a man’s worth? Given the obscene amount he was to earn for doing very little in respect of financial advice, many thought that was bad enough, however on Friday, it was announced that he is to have a third job – namely Editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper.
His pre-existing original job is that of a MP, for Tatton, hoping one day he will be back on the front benches in Parliament no doubt.
It has been said today that George Osborne always wanted to be a Journalist, so this is his chance, of sorts. Apparently, he has no experience or relevant qualifications. Try going in a job centre and securing a job that way!
Some commentators are wondering if he will be Editor of the London Evening Standard or Editor in Chief – one involves the chance of getting ink on one’s hands.
Others are saying such a role as Editor will provide him with the opportunity of serving vengeance, a dish always best served cold, if so, he would have more than ink on his hands, and possible High Court cases in future.
Already, obvious remarks on hearing this news, are that he would be compromised in what he could write in the Business Section of the newspaper when one thinks of his job to advise on finances in respect of his second employer Company – Job No 2.
Then reverting to his original job as MP (Job no 1), how can he find time to assist his constituency and represent their interests in Parliament without being half asleep, or compromising other interests, either his, or theirs?
Various people are already calling for him to step down from his role as an MP. Or, as the new Editor of The Evening Standard, may announce as a front page headline ‘Watch this Space’, or he might even hold a referendum of his own in that regard.
Any personal stories would also earn him royalty fees or deal monies, as long as he keeps within any Official Secrets Acts, etc, he may have signed, otherwise he could find himself within Paddington Green Police Station with a different type of ink on his hands!
The presumptuous remark George Osborne made in the link, that he has already run a Country, is one most telling for Mrs May as to never turn her back on him, yet I am sure she is well aware of the obvious.
A few have been wondering if Mr Osborne has ambitions to become Lord Mayor of London one day – he will have his own in-house media campaign conduit in support, which would be most useful and no doubt a free service reciprocated with top headlines.
Now I would like to come to the following points which many will also be a little annoyed about when considering the same.
First off, the talented journalists and commentators working either for the London Evening Standard or other National and local newspapers. Also, students training to be journalists.
Can they walk into the role of Editor anywhere with their experience, endeavours or training so far, just because they always wanted to? Of course not or at the very least, if so, it would be through a rare contingency (nepotism, or worse, aside).
Wasn’t the money he was being paid in jobs No 1 or 2 sufficient?
Then this latest job No 3 – is George Osborne Empire Building to become a mogul in Broadcasting Media with a foot still in the Parliamentary door?
The ‘ordinary’ worker in the UK, legal immigrants and UK population alike, work long hard hours every day and week, months, years, and most can only ever secure one half decent job, perhaps some on minimum, or unofficially below minimum, wages, etc.
A lot of what was in my original article applies even moreso now.
If a person on job-seeking allowances or unemployment benefits, through no fault of their own, breach ‘the system’, they lose their benefits and can be considered fraudsters. Earnings for most have a ceiling then housing benefit is reduced or lost if they earned an extra £5 plastic/monopoly-styled note.
There is therefore something inherently wrong with the greed of Mr Osborne, his disconcern that he has not earned his role as Editor of the London Evening Standard and that to him at least, there appears no conflict of interest against his role of MP and that of Jobs number 2 and 3. That said, Mrs May really needs to keep MPs rather than lose any when it comes to Parliamentary votes, preferably until Brexit is concluded. Then again, some ships are best cut adrift. Yes, I did spell that correctly.
However, I am sure that others will deal with this matter in due course, as the clamour for the resignation of Mr Osborne has grown louder since his news became public, and has grown even louder still as I have written this piece.
It shows the power of being a former Front Bench Minister on the job market – the world is one’s oyster – just head through the swivel door of (jobs) ethics and who knows where one might end up! Editor George Osborne must though be careful he does not end up as his own disastrous headline one day sooner or later.
In the interim I do hope he has time to make donations when he sees the homeless sleeping rough, with nothing to eat or drink, freezing cold at night or does his chauffeur-driven car, black cab, or selected eye-sight, avoid such things?
Never mind, what one cannot donate enroute to or from the office, can be redeemed by putting some produce in the food banks of his local supermarkets, but he may have his groceries delivered.
One cannot serve two Masters in Biblical reference thereof, and Mr George Osborne will soon discover that three Masters often causes an early death, in political, or in actual terms, via a stroke, with such a heavy work-load.
Somehow, I have the feeling a fourth job may not be too far away either.
Don’t forget Mr Osborne, there are no pockets in shrouds!
Hazel Speed
Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine
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