Whether you agree with it or not, in the UK there is no restriction on Members of Parliaments having second jobs unless they are ministers.
In recent years the idea that MPs can have second jobs has come under scrutiny due to many arguing it is a conflict of interest and that is distracts them from fulfilling their job. Recently Owen Paterson lost his job after he was found to have broken lobbying rules and questions were also raised over Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Cox who earned £900,000 in 2020 as his work as a lawyer.
More than 200 MPs earned earnings on top of their £81,932 salary in 2020. They have to declare any additional income, gifts , donations and shareholdings over 15% which may mean that some are unaccounted for or unexplained if under the threshold.
After leaving government they must consult the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments about any jobs in the next 2 years. Additionally, they are banned from lobbying the government for 2 years.
A counter argument, is that not having second jobs would not serve the best interest of democracy as MPs should have a wide range of experience.
Many MPs work in the area of consultancy, heres a list of MPs who earned over £50,000 in 2020.
- Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) holds six consultancy jobs, supporting investment banks and accountancy firms. He has registered more than £180,000 for 34.5 days’ work
- Julian Smith (Conservative) is earning £144,000 for 62-84 hours’ work for three companies, including advising on energy and renewable fuels
- Former transport and justice secretary Chris Grayling (Conservative) earns £100,000 to advise Hutchison Ports
- Mark Garnier (Conservative) is paid to sit on the advisory boards of two companies in the space and satellite industry, committing 20 hours a month for an annual payment of £90,000
- Sir Ed Davey (Lib Dem) works as a consultant for two firms alongside his job as leader of the Liberal Democrats. He says his extra £78,000 income goes towards supporting his disabled son
- Alun Cairns (Conservative), who left his post as Welsh Secretary in 2019, earns £60,000 advising three companies
- Ruth Edwards (Conservative), who has represented Rushcliffe since 2019, commits to 192 hours for £60,000 per year, advising a software company
- Stephen Hammond (Conservative) advises an investment company on political issues for £60,000 a year
- Since leaving his role as health minister in 2019, Steve Brine (Conservative) has joined three firms, including Sigma Pharmaceuticals. He earns almost £60,000 for 288 hours
- David Davis (Conservative) earns just over £50,000 as an adviser to two German companies
- John Hayes (Conservative) offers up to 90 hours of his time annually to international energy company BB Energy Trading, earning £50,000
Others like Sir Geoffrey Cox work as lawyers, his work included travelling to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to advise on a corruption inquiry. He was there for a number of weeks, meaning he was carrying out his work as an MP - including voting - from the Caribbean.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is also a barrister, has made more than £100,000 for legal work, writing and making speeches since becoming an MP in 2015.
Some MPs returned to their previous jobs as doctors and nurses during the pandemic,
As an MP your earning potential is not currently confined to just your salary, their is the opportunity to work using a profession you have gained like a doctor or lawyer, or find alternative jobs due to your position like consultancy,
Do you think this is right, should it be banned ?