Former Times editor Simon Jenkins is returning to the London Evening Standard as a weekly columnist after a break of three years from writing for the paper.

Jenkins quit as a weekly columnist for the Sunday Times in October after being appointed chairman of the National Trust - he was replaced by former Sunday Telegraph editor Dominic Lawson.

He still writes a twice-weekly column for The Guardian.

Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley said: "I am delighted that Simon is returning to the Standard. He is quite simply the best there is and has a passionate interest in and knowledge of London".

Jenkins, who is a former editor of the Standard, said: "I am very pleased to be writing for the Standard - a great London newspaper."

His column will appear in the paper on Tuesdays.