Friday 17 March 2017 12:43 pm

Former chancellor George Osborne has been appointed editor of London daily the Evening Standard – Twitter reacts

George Osborne has announced yet another new job, and Twitter has gone a bit nuts…

The former chancellor has just been appointed Editor of the Evening Standard and it's fair to say the news came as a surprise to basically everyone.

I am literally dumbfounded. Trying to imagine Osbo drumming up page leads. "Don't we need a nib on knife crime in Croydon?"

— Isabel Oakeshott (@IsabelOakeshott) March 17, 2017

George Osborne addresses the Evening Standard newsroom. Just look at the joy on their faces. pic.twitter.com/eDxnb0WtIf

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) March 17, 2017

After getting over the initial hilarity of the situation…

Osborne coming into journalism like pic.twitter.com/5Qf61hCwIW

— Mike Hills (@mikewhills) March 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/feedthedrummer/status/842696737739460609

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

— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) March 17, 2017

I'm not saying living standards have declined under the Tories but even George Osborne has to work three jobs these days pic.twitter.com/SAELHKRk7t

— Palmerston the Cat (@PalmerstonFOCat) March 17, 2017

Twitter hacks everywhere started doing a bit of digging on Britain's former chancellor.

George Osborne might want to take a few editions out of the archives: pic.twitter.com/tSEnfGCeFs

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) March 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/842695863621312512

There have been some serious concerns expressed about how Osborne can handle six jobs…

Flooded with offers of writing and media to comment on Osborne, the answer is No, I can't do anything til 8pm as I have a job to do as an MP

— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) March 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/DannoCaley/status/842706697592430592

… and about potential conflicts of interest given that he has not stepped down from his position as MP for Tatton.

Marx: fishing in the morning, work in the afternoon, Plato at night
Osborne: Editor in the AM, MP in the PM, After-dinner speeches at night

— Aditya Chakrabortty (@chakrabortty) March 17, 2017

With Osborne becoming editor of the Evening Standard we previously found 54% backing a ban on MPs holding other jobs https://t.co/FT4HSoYl8k pic.twitter.com/Wk12C7HIOT

— YouGov (@YouGov) March 17, 2017

To add to the mix, the announcement came just as the Conservative Party Spring Forum got underway…

https://twitter.com/jessicaelgot/status/842697323654397952

https://twitter.com/helenlewis/status/842701391407865857

and of course, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has reacted with customary aplomb.