Yahoo News Outgoing Evening Standard editor says she feels better about her lack of radio experience now George Osborne has been appointed as her successor
The outgoing editor of the Evening Standard who stepped down to join the BBC's Today programme has said she feels "a bit better" about her lack of radio experience now George Osborne has been appointed as her successor.
Sarah Sands had faced criticism from some quarters after she was given the high profile Radio 4 position despite having a background in newspaper rather than broadcasting.
But any surprise at her new role has been overshadowed by the widespread backlash to the former Chancellor's selection as Fleet Street's newest editor.
Mr Osborne, who has limited journalistic experience, intends to continue as an MP for Tatton, 190 miles from London, where the Evening Standard is distributed.
He told Standard staff last week that he would need their help. “I may have run a country, but I’ve never run a newspaper," he said.
Writing for the Spectator, Ms Sands defended Mr Osborne's appointment.
"The late Nick Tomalin pointed out that success in journalism requires only ‘ratlike cunning, a plausible manner, and a little literary ability’," she said.
"The trade is temperament as much as technical skill and Osborne has a journalistic love of mischief-making.
She added: "George Osborne’s appointment is viewed as representative of a new world order, but really it is reasserting an older tradition. Politics and journalism have long been intertwined, never more so than by a previous owner of the Standard, Lord Beaverbrook."
In an open letter to constituents, Mr Osborne insisted he could do both jobs well.
Mr Osborne wrote: "There is a long tradition of politics and journalism mixing. One of the greatest newspaper editors ever, CP Scott, combined editing the Manchester Guardian with being an MP.
"In our age, politicians from Iain Macleod and Richard Crossman to, of course, Boris Johnson have combined the role of editor and Member of Parliament," the Knutsford Guardian reported.
It comes as Labour deputy leader Tom Watson called for the Government to give assurances there will be no ministerial conflicts of interest following Mr Osborne's new job.
In a letter to Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr Watson pointed to the long-standing personal and professional relationship he has had with Mr Osborne.
The deputy Labour leader said Mr Osborne would be expected to seek to influence ministers on media policy in his new role and that Mr Hancock should recuse himself from any matters relating to the London Evening Standard, or ask the Prime Minister to move him to another post in Government.
The media minister and the new editor of the Evening Standard. pic.twitter.com/ieR25o3ziM
— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) March 21, 2017
Mr Watson wrote: "There is no secret, and no shame, in a Conservative MP being a loyal ally of his former boss and powerful patron.
"However, as Minister of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, you now have ministerial responsibility for policy areas in which Mr Osborne and his new employer have a commercial interest."
He added: "Your long-standing relationship with Mr Osborne means that any ministerial decisions you make from now on which affect media policy will be subject to accusations of a conflict of interest which it will be difficult for you to disprove."
