NORTHWICH MP George Osborne has assured residents he remains committed to Tatton despite taking on a new city role worth a reported £200,000 a year.

From Wednesday, February 1, Mr Osborne, whose constituency covers Barnton, Rudheath, Lostock, Wincham and Pickmere, will join asset manager BlackRock Investment Institute as a senior adviser on a part-time basis.

The firm announced on Friday, January 20, that Mr Osborne will ‘provide perspectives on European politics and policy, Chinese economic reform, and trends such as low yields and longevity and their impact on retirement planning’.

BlackRock hailed Mr Osborne, who stepped down as chancellor last July following the Brexit vote, as a ‘leading voice in the G20 on global economic and financial issues’.

Mr Osborne’s salary was not disclosed, but reports in the national press have claimed that the former chancellor will earn more than £200,000 a year for the role, which is expected to take one day a week.

Following the announcement, Mr Osborne pledged to continue his work in Tatton while looking forward to his new role at BlackRock.

“It’s a chance for me to work part-time with one of the world’s most respected firms and a major employer in Britain,” he said.

“The majority of my time will be devoted to being an MP, representing my constituents and promoting the northern powerhouse.

“My goal is to go on learning, gaining new experience and get an even better understanding of the world.”

Last month, Mr Osborne defended his right to earn more than £500,000 by making speeches in autumn 2016, while he also spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos recently.

But Gareth Wilson, chair of Tatton Lib Dems, said the news was ‘absolutely breathtaking’.

“How can an MP effectively handle the casework of over 70,000 people, be present in the constituency to meet constituents, attend Parliament for crucial votes and work for a City Bank,” he said.

“That ‘one day a week’ should be spent helping and meeting in person the people George is supposed to be representing. Any Tatton constituent who has ever tried to arrange a meeting with him will know how difficult this is. Perhaps he’ll give back 20 per cent of his MP’s salary?"

“Being an MP should be an honour and an act of vocational national service - taking second jobs should be banned.”