Cameron forces his shadow cabinet to give up 'millionaires' row' jobs

Published on Monday 29 June 2009 22:03

MEMBERS of David Cameron's shadow cabinet earn half a million pounds between them on top of their parliamentary salaries, it was disclosed yesterday, as he ordered them to give up their second jobs by the end of the year.

MPs will from tomorrow start disclosing outside interests in a new register, including hours worked and salaries earned.

The Conservative leader yesterday pre-empted this by unveiling the second jobs of his team. Eleven members of what critics have called "millionaires' row" have second jobs.

Mr Cameron said being an MP was not always incompatible with taking on outside interests, but it was necessary for his team to focus 100 per cent on parliament to "set out our credentials as an alternative government".

"I do not think that a chamber full of professional politicians with no outside experience is a good thing," he said.

"MPs and members of the shadow cabinet should be judged by what they do for their constituents and holding the government to account. There are idle MPs with no outside interests, and there are fantastic public servants that do have them."

Former leader and shadow foreign secretary William Hague was the shadow cabinet's highest earner, raking in 90,000 a year on top of his salary of 64,466. Most of this – 50,000 – was from diggers firm JCB, while AES Engineering paid him 25,000. Giving just one speech brings the accomplished after-dinner speaker 15,000.

At a time when the media industry is suffering financial pressures, shadow schools secretary Michael Gove extracts an additional 78,000 from writing for publications. Of this, 60,000 comes from the Times for one hour a week. The rest comes from other publications – including Scotland on Sunday.

From tomorrow, MPs will have to list salary details and the hours worked at second jobs. Previously, they had only to disclose their outside employers.

Many MPs have already quit their second jobs before they have to start declaring their interests in full. Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan has resigned the directorships of three companies.

One of the highest earners is believed to be Liberal Democrat John Hemming, who takes home 200,000 from his software firm.

&#149 David Cameron's lead over Labour is narrowing, according to an opinion poll last night.

The ComRes poll puts the Conservatives on 36 per cent, down two points on last month and 11 points ahead of Labour, which is up three on 25 per cent. The Liberal Democrats are down one on 19 per cent.

Who does what outside the Shadow Cabinet

&#149 Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague earns 50,000 from JCB, 25,000 from AES Engineering and 15,000 for a single speech: a total of 90,000.

&#149 Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove earns at least 78,000. Of this, 60,000 comes from the Times for writing a column or for "one hour or so a week".

&#149 Tory policy chief Oliver Letwin earns 145 an hour, for eight hours work a week, from NM Rotschild: 60,000 a year.

&#149 Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke gets 38,000 per annum as a non-executive director of Independent News and Media Ltd. He receives an additional 7,500 from AgCapita Partners and 3,000 from the BBC for making jazz programmes.

&#149 Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley makes 25,000 a year for one day a week's work at digital marketing agency Profero.

&#149 Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Frances Maude is paid more than 68,000 for three outside jobs.

&#149 Shadow International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell takes 36,000 a year from Accenture and 7,500 from The Foundation.

&#149 Eric Pickles is paid 12,000 to be an advisor to the Royal British Legion Industries.

&#149 Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary David Willetts earns 60,000 as a pensions adviser to Punter Southall.