George Osborne quits as an MP so he can be Evening Standard editor saying he’s leaving Westminster ‘for now’

GEORGE Osborne is quitting as an MP so he can stay on as Evening Standard editor saying he's leaving Westminster "for now".

But the former Chancellor has hinted at a political comeback, saying he intends to stay active on the issues he is passionate about.

The 45-year-old also said he will carry on “fighting for that Britain I love” when he takes charge of the capital's biggest newspaper next month.

He revealed his decision in a letter to Conservatives in his Tatton constituency, saying it was "too early to be writing my memoirs".

Mr Osborne wrote: “I am stepping down from the House of Commons - for now.

"But I will remain active in the debate about our country’s future and on the issues I care about, like the success of the Northern Powerhouse.

“I want a Britain that is free, open, diverse and works with other nations to defend our democratic values in the world.

“I will go on fighting for that Britain I love from the editor’s chair of a great newspaper.

"It’s still too early to be writing my memoirs.”

The ex-Cabinet Minister, who was turfed out of No11 by Theresa May last year, has come under fire for his work outside Parliament.

He had been criticised for taking on a lucrative career as an after-dinner speaker and as a highly-paid consultant at BlackRock.

He had already declared £1million of outside earnings before the shock announcement he was succeeding Sarah Sands as Evening Standard editor.

Speculation had been rife he would have to end his parliamentary career in order to take up his latest role following Mrs May's shock announcement yesterday.

And this lunchtime it was revealed he would quit the North West seat he has represented since joining the House of Commons since 2001.

Mr Osborne said: “At the age of 45, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life just being an ex-Chancellor. I want new challenges.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to edit the Evening Standard. I’ve met the team there, and their energy and commitment to this great newspaper are positively infectious.”

He later hinted that he could make life difficult for Theresa May in his new role, telling the BBC his coverage would be “without fear or favour.”

His announcement has been welcomed as "the right decision" by his Tory branch colleagues, but also seen as a sad moment too.

Tony Dean, a Knutsford Town and Cheshire East councillor and member of Tatton Conservatives, said he was particularly surprised by the timing considering his commitment last month to remaining a local MP.

He said at the group’s AGM recently: "He said he didn't think his political career was over, and he said how ambitious he was.

"He must have had a change of heart - there's been a little bit of that in the last day or two, though, hasn't there?”

Fellow town councillor Christine Gray shared her shock the constituency was looking for its first new MP for 16 years.

She added: "That said, nothing surprises me in politics any more.

"This is a relatively secure seat for the Conservatives, so I imagine there will be people queuing up to represent us here."

Here is the full resignation letter: