Ex-Chancellor George Osborne divorces wife Frances after 21 years of marriage
GEORGE Osborne is divorcing wife Frances after 21 years of marriage, the ex-Chancellor announced tonight.
The couple – who have two children – said they would remain “good friends” but had mutually decided they should separate.
It comes as Mr Osborne, now editor of the Evening Standard newspaper, is rumoured to have his eye on a return to high office.
He recently endorsed Boris Johnson to be the next Tory leader despite the two men previously falling out over Brexit.
The Osbornes said in a statement this evening: “George and Frances Osborne have sadly decided to divorce after 21 years of marriage.
“This is a long thought-through and mutual decision. They remain good friends and jointly devoted to their wonderful children.
“For the sake of their children, they ask that the family’s privacy is respected. Neither George nor Frances will be making any comment.”
The pair met at a friend’s house over Sunday lunch, before marrying in 1998. They have two teenaged children, Liberty and Luke.
Oxford-educated Frances, 50, is the daughter of Tory ex-minister David Howell and has written three best-selling books.
She is a close pal of Justine Thornton, whose husband is former Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Mr Osborne, 48, who served as Chancellor between 2010 and 2016, resigned as MP for Tatton two years ago and now holds a bulging portfolio of lucrative jobs.
He has roles at two different universities and a Washington-based think-tank, as well as chairing the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
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Mr Osborne was also hired to advise BlackRock, one of the world’s largest investment firms, after Theresa May sacked him as Chancellor.
He has used the Evening Standard to tear into Mrs May’s Brexit policy and recently backed Boris as the new PM.
The surprise move stoked Westminster rumours that Mr Osborne is eyeing a political comeback, possibly as MP for the crucial marginal seat of Kensington, and could try to return to the Cabinet.
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