Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
Twitter is having a field day contemplating George Osborne’s election predicament [TWEETS]
With all of the election excitement, MPs have a lot of work to do in the six weeks running up to polling day on 8 June. And the empathetic users of Twitter haven’t forgotten just how one Tory MP will be feeling right about now:
Poor @George_Osborne. Working 6 jobs and now an election campaign. Let's all take a moment to think of him.
— Fiona S (@Ms_Popoff) April 18, 2017
Poor George Osborne. But some think there may be worse news for him:
Spare a thought for poor George Osborne, who may well soon be out of a job.
— Jonny Kiehlmann (@kiehlmanniac) April 18, 2017
But we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Has anyone even told him?
https://twitter.com/SurryKnight/status/854318754213183488
Maybe someone did:
George Osborne's reaction to the #GeneralElection2017 announcement this morning. https://t.co/6V7I2gwm2L
— David Videcette (@DavidVidecette) April 18, 2017
Anyone else wondering how the legendary grafter, @George_Osborne, is getting through his day? #backtowork #GeneralElection
— Robert Osborne (@robertosborne93) April 18, 2017
That’s cynical. This might be more likely:
When George Osborne heard about #GE2017 this morning what do you think he did first:
— 40.1%Londoner (@100pcLondoner) April 18, 2017
Some Twitter users think Osborne’s roles involve a conflict of interest. Because he’ll “be editor of the Evening Standard by June 8th General Election”:
Early election tricky for the editor of the London Evening Standard. George Osborne standing again and running a newspaper "cough" tricky
— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) April 18, 2017
Time for @George_Osborne to announce he wont be standing – can't believe that the @standardnews will remain 'unbiased' #GeneralElection2017
— Linda Riley (@LindaRiley8) April 18, 2017
Others say that he should stand down:
I'm waiting to hear George Osborne's resignation speech. Assume he wasn't planning to be MP plus everything else til 2022?
— Maria Cooke (@maria90583177) April 18, 2017
Wait, what?
George Osborne has just announced he will be standing in four additional seats. #GE2017
— Peter Smith (@Redpeter99) April 18, 2017
George Osborne still needs to step down
Twitter users simply think Osborne still needs to work out his priorities. If it isn’t bad enough for an MP to neglect his constituency while tending to five other demanding roles, he is editing a newspaper while running in a general election.
He was expected to take up his new role in May. It seems as though Osborne has two choices. Push the date of taking up the role as Editor of The Evening Standard until after the election, or stand down as MP for Tatton.
There’s also a third choice: resigning as Editor altogether. But it’s unlikely he will do that willingly. So it’s time we spared a thought for Osborne; and thought about calling for him to step down as an MP.
Get Involved!
– Read more from The Canary on the 2017 general election and George Osborne.
– Sign the petition asking George Osborne to ‘Pick a Job’.
Featured image via Flickr/altogetherfool
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