MPs’ income from work outside of parliament has continued to rise, despite promises of a crackdown on second jobs following the Owen Paterson scandal, according to analysis by The Guardian. The analysis found that MPs who made more than £1,000 in the past year collectively earned £10 million, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson accounting for close to £5 million in his final months as an MP. While some MPs have given up well-paid consultancy work in the wake of the Paterson scandal, others have begun building up portfolio careers.
In October 2021, the Owen Paterson scandal rocked Parliament when the former Tory cabinet minister was found to have breached rules by using his position to lobby on behalf of companies that employed him as a consultant. Despite a proposed 30-day suspension from the House, the government delayed the sanction in an attempt to save Paterson’s career. However, the government later reversed its decision, and Paterson resigned.
In November 2021, attention turned to former UK attorney general Geoffrey Cox, who had earned nearly £6 million from his work as a barrister outside of parliament since becoming an MP. An investigation by The Guardian revealed that a quarter of Conservative MPs hold second jobs. In response to mounting criticism, Boris Johnson proposed rules to update the code of conduct for MPs, with a ban on paid political consultancy or lobbying. Reasonable limits on outside earnings, around 10-15 hours per week, were also suggested.
In March 2022, ministers informed the Commons standards committee that time limits or ceilings on MPs’ earnings from second jobs would be impractical. They argued that the imposition of time limits would not necessarily address concerns over paid advocacy and an MP’s duty to their constituents. Changes to the MPs’ code of conduct were considered but ultimately dropped due to a lack of cross-party agreement on reform.
In January 2023, Labour leader Keir Starmer called for a ban on second jobs, although he acknowledged that there may be some exceptions. The Guardian reported that Tory MPs had received £15.2 million from second jobs since the 2019 general election, with former Prime Minister Theresa May being the largest recipient. In March 2023, a new code of conduct for MPs was introduced, banning paid parliamentary advice and tightening loopholes.
In July 2023, the head of the ethics watchdog, Lord Evans, called for limits on MPs’ second jobs, suggesting an “indicative” ceiling on the amount of time MPs can spend on their outside roles. Lord Evans argued that it is difficult to argue that some politicians are putting parliament first.
Overall, despite initial promises of a crackdown on second jobs for MPs, their income from work outside of parliament has continued to rise. Efforts to implement limits or bans on second jobs have faced challenges and lack of consensus, leaving the issue unresolved.
Original Story at www.theguardian.com – 2023-08-06 18:03:00
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