George Osborne argues that “parliament is enhanced when we have people from all walks of life and different experience in the debate” (MPs may ask Osborne to decline job at Standard, 21 March). While that is undoubtedly true, it is far __more usual for MPs to bring that experience with them when they enter parliament, rather than learning new experiences during their spare time when parliamentary duties can be left to one side. Osborne is effectively asking his constituents to support him as he develops his CV. Nice work (but the rest of us can’t get it).
Stephen Reid
Wick, Caithness
• The electors of Tatton have previously shown the power of an electoral alliance to defeat an arrogant MP with an apparently unassailable majority. If George Osborne persists in his refusal to stand down as their representative, what better opportunity could there be for the opposition, as well as disgruntled Tories, to adopt a unity candidate to fight the ex-chancellor turned free sheet editor whenever the opportunity arises? Despite Martin Bell’s intention to watch from the sidelines (Can Osborne be an MP and an editor? Let the people decide, theguardian.com, 17 March), could he not be persuaded to dust off his white suit and enter the fray for a second time?
Dr Anthony Isaacs
London
• I wonder if Mr Osborne has read Trollope’s The Way We Live Now. In chapter 89, Mr Alf has given up editorship of a newspaper in order to get into parliament, so as to avoid people thinking he might be “committing a crime against the Constitution”. Plus ça change…
Tom Rees
Thames Ditton, Surrey
• Even if George Osborne did have any inkling of how to manage a football team any better than he managed the economy, his presence at 3pm on a Saturday would probably not be of any great use to Arsenal given that the diktats of TV have ensured that so far this season only seven of Arsenal’s 27 Premier League matches have kicked off at that time (Letters, 22 March).
Adrian Brodkin
London
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