George Osborne picks up his sixth job: as a professor at the University of Manchester

After recently getting to grips with his new role as the Editor of the Evening Standard, it has been announced that our former Chancellor has now picked up a sixth job.

An email to staff at the University of Manchester announced that George Osborne would be joining as an honorary professor of economics.

Mr Osborne is already chairman of the Northern Powerhouse, makes speeches for the McCain Institute and is said to earn £650,000 annually working for BlackRock.

One colleague told the FT that the appointment was a "coup" for the university.

Additionally the colleague said Mr Osborne will "relish" teaching austerity to angry young Corbynistas.

Mr Osborne is due to start in July.  He said: "I am bowled over by this honour. The University of Manchester was at the centre of so many things I tried to achieve as chancellor, from the promotion of new science to the building of the links between this country and countries like China.

"It is also one of the jewels in the crown of the Northern Powerhouse. I remain completely committed to that idea that together the different communities in the North can work together so that the whole is greater than the parts – and I believe more strongly than I ever did that the entire county, including our capital, would benefit from a stronger North.

"That’s why I remain closely involved as chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership – and look forward to playing a part in the life of the University of Manchester."

Nancy Rothwell, University of Manchester vice-chancellor, said: "George’s decision to accept our offer of an honorary professorship is very exciting news for the University. He has been a leader at the top level of UK and world economic policy for many years and showed the vision to recognise the enormous economic and scientific potential of graphene to the UK."

The University and College Union has criticised the University of Manchester for giving George Osborne the job.

UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: "The University of Manchester is currently planning to axe 171 jobs and around 1,000 staff don’t know what their future holds. None of them will be reassured by the university’s decision to offer a man with five jobs something else to do.

"We hope that, as an economics professor, Mr Osborne will question how plans to slash local jobs and reduce the opportunities for students, particularly those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, fits in with his vision for a strong Northern Powerhouse."