Actual journalists respond to George Osborne’s appointment as Standard editor

Even Brexit, Trump and the death of David Bowie couldn’t prepare us for George Osborne’s appointment as editor of the London Evening Standard.

Osborne has no journalistic experience and – on top of being an MP for a constituency 140 miles away from London – has already accepted a £650,000 a year second job in wealth management.

Everyone who’s managed to pick their mouth off the floor has had their say on Twitter. But here’s how some of the more longstanding members of the fourth estate have reacted to the news.

Former Independent political editor Jane Merrick, Times sketch writer Patrick Kidd congratulated Osborne on securing an editor’s job without ever having worked as a journalist:

Congratulations to @George_Osborne who 20 years after applying to become a journalist has finally made it

— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) March 17, 2017

Delighted George Osborne has come so far in journalism after failing to get a Times traineeship in 1993. A lesson to all eager youngsters

— Patrick Kidd (@patrick_kidd) March 17, 2017

Others, including Daily Politics presenter and former newspaper editor Andrew Neil, wondered whether he was prepared for the fast world of breaking news:

When made Editor of The Sunday Times I was criticised because I hadn't been an editor. Mr Osborne hasn't even been a journalist.

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) March 17, 2017

This is all I've managed to find of @George_Osborne's journalistic career so far… pic.twitter.com/LH8OMK1Igr

— Kathryn Snowdon (@Kathryn_Snowdon) March 17, 2017

Has George Osborne got his shorthand?

— Matt Withers (@mattwithers) March 17, 2017

Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire, Mail on Sunday columnist Dan Hodges and Mirror political reporter Dan Bloom wondered how he would manage to juggle his jobs:

New London Evening Standard editor George Osborne – yes, him – flopped at the Times. How will he fit in being an MP and £650k City job?

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) March 17, 2017

I like George Osborne. But the idea of a sitting MP editing a major newspaper is utter insanity.

— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) March 17, 2017

The Evening Standard offices are 140 MILES from George Osborne's constituency. What in the name of God is this

— Dan Bloom (@danbloom1) March 17, 2017

The Mirror’s political editor was a little more blunt:

Resign. pic.twitter.com/BdERS63r8v

— Jack Blanchard (@Jack_Blanchard_) March 17, 2017

Observer columnist Nick Cohen warned Osborne might be shocked at the level of cuts he finds:

George Osborne will discover he didn't he begin to understand the true meaning of "austerity" until his first day in a newspaper office

— Nick Cohen (@NickCohen4) March 17, 2017

Others, like Daily Record Westminster editor Torcuil Crichton, invited Osborne to join the National Union of Journalists:

Here you go @George_Osborne, I'll sign the nomination https://t.co/58ZTMqZBcf

— Torcuil Crichton (@Torcuil) March 17, 2017

Other members…weren’t so keen:

There now follows a short welcome from the National Union of Journalists to George Osborne. pic.twitter.com/NIShDzfjWn

— David Whitley (@mrdavidwhitley) March 17, 2017

Guardian writer Tim Dowling was inspired to quit journalism for a new career:

George Osborne editing the Standard, Noel Fielding on Bake Off. Now I regret not applying to be the Astronomer Royal.

— Tim Dowling (@IAmTimDowling) March 17, 2017

But George also inspired this budding journalist to chase his dreams:

Breaking: I will shortly be announced as editor of Heat magazine….

— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) March 17, 2017

The one time we wanted fake news…