GEORGE Osborne has told the Guardian he will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming snap General Election.

Mr Osborne, MP for Tatton since 2001, contacted Patti Goddard – president of the Tatton Conservative Association – this morning to inform her of his decision.

He wrote: “I am writing to let you know that I will not be seeking re-election for the Tatton constituency.

“I’ve had sixteen brilliant years as a Member of Parliament, representing the wonderful people of Cheshire. Their good humour and common sense have kept my feet on the ground through the ups and downs of political life.

“As I helped to open our new link road to Manchester recently, after 50 years of trying to get it built, I thought: we’ve achieved a lot together for the local community.

“Being a member of the House of Commons is a rare privilege, and the thrill I felt when the returning officer announced my first election has never left me through all the dramatic events I have seen played out on those green benches.

“I also count myself as incredibly fortunate to have served as Chancellor of the Exchequer for six years - and to have been part of a team under David Cameron that turned around the fortunes of the Conservative Party and rescued the economy.

“We promised modern, compassionate Conservative Government, and we delivered it. I am proud of the role I played in that. It’s not true when they say there are no friends in politics – along the way, I have made close life-long friends.

"Now I have to make decisions about my future. At the age of 45, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life just being a former 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. More so than at any time in my life, the public need from the media the straight facts and informed opinion to help them to make the big decisions Britain now faces about the kind of country we want to be. That starts with the coverage of this General Election.

“It means a lot to me that the Tatton Conservative Party gave me such a warm welcome at our recent annual meeting. You have been great friends to me for two decades.

“No one ever thanks you enough - and other grassroots members of our political parties - for the role you play as citizens who take the time and the trouble to care about what happens in our democracy. So let me say a deep, heartfelt thank you.

“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.”

Prime Minister Theresa May announced yesterday, Tuesday, that the country would go to the polls in a General Election on June 8.