THE explanation for George Osborne’s recent incomprehensible rise to editorial responsibilities rests simply on a built in sense of entitlement (otherwise known as brass neck), meeting up with an eastern desire to stir the pot (“Greedy Osborne should be ashamed”, The Herald, March 20). It is not, I believe, a question of greed on the part of the former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

On the one hand we have Mr Osborne from a wealthy family, former pupil at St Paul’s, member of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford University, and camp follower in the Conservative Party, within which he experienced an inexorable rise, only to lose out on residence at Number Ten at an advanced stage. On the other hand we have the Russian oligarch, ex-KGB officer, reportedly ex billionaire Alexander Lebedev appearing as a substantial owner of the Evening Standard, which is now a freesheet. At least, the new editor does not have to worry about selling copies to customers.

In my opinion they deserve each other.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.

GEORGE Osborne really takes the prize in exhibiting the true "British" values as he adds yet another job to his portfolio. And the values I'm referring to? Greed and Arrogance.

Patricia Fort,

15 Lanark Street, Glasgow.

MARIANNE Taylor's headline, "Greedy Osborne should be ashamed", seems to contain a double redundancy. George Osborne is a Tory, so I consider that "Greedy Osborne" is tautology. And surely in financial matters, an "ashamed" Tory is an oxymoron.

The headline could simply have read "Osborne acts as expected".

James Gordon,

Mavis Bank,

Bathgate.