MORE than 170,000 people have signed a petition urging George Osborne to choose which job he wants to keep.

The Tatton MP has left several residents in shock following the surprise announcement of his new role as editor of the London Evening Standard last week.

Diana Simkins, from Knutsford, set up the petition on the 38 Degrees website, urging the former chancellor to either give up his seat in the House of Commons or decline the newspaper job.

She told the Guardian that it’s now for Mr Osborne’s constituents to help decide his fate as Tatton’s MP.

“I think a lot of people are worried about the time Mr Osborne will put into the job for us,” she said.

“He has a lot of jobs already and this is another one – a bigger one.”

Mr Osborne’s role at the Evening Standard follows his appointment as an adviser for American financial firm BlackRock Investment Institute, where he will spend 12 days every three months.

He is expected to work at the Evening Standard four days a week in the morning, before returning to his duties in Westminster for the afternoon, while he claims he will continue to serve Tatton by holding surgeries.

Diana delivered the petition to Mr Osborne’s constituency office in Windsor Way, Knutsford, on Monday after 170,513 people had signed it.

“The petition attracted a lot of signatures, and the response we have had to it has been excellent,” she added.

“This is not a party political issue, and people have signed this petition from all sides.

“It’s not for me to decide what Mr Osborne should do now, but he has a decision to make.”