MPs braced as second job earnings to be revealed

Published on Sunday 28 June 2009 21:59

MPS are bracing themselves for fresh questions over their earnings with the publication this week of details of their earnings from second jobs.

Politicians are preparing to defend themselves against charges of "moonlighting" and being unduly influenced by companies that employ them.

A survey has already revealed some of those in the House of Commons who have high earnings from second jobs.

Top of the list is John Hemming, the Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley, who receives 200,000 a year from his computer software company.

Meanwhile, Labour's Nick Raynsford, a former housing minister, earns more than 140,000 annually from six private sector jobs.

This includes 50,000 for his role as honorary vice-chairman of the Construction Industry Council, 25,000 from his chairmanship of the National House Building Association and 33,000 as chairman of the recruitment firm Rockpools.

He also took home 18,750 as a non-executive director of Hometrack, 9,000 from his role as president of Constructionarium and 7,000 from his post as a non-executive director of the Fire Protection Agency.

Scottish MPs have not escaped scrutiny, with John Thurso, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, taking 7,500 last year for organising a wine and spirits festival.

The new Speaker, John Bercow – who has repaid money to the Exchequer after flipping his second home designation and avoiding capital gains tax – earns 40,000 from a post with health firm the Priory Group.

The revelations have reopened the debate over whether MPs should have second jobs or concentrate solely on being professional politicians.

Critics believe that MPs have enough work to do in the Commons and their constituencies without other employment.

But anti-sleaze campaigner and Conservative MP Douglas Carswell – who once claimed 700 on expenses for a "love seat" – defended second jobs.

"It means MPs are able to draw on outside experiences and are not just in the hands of the party whips," he said yesterday.

Yesterday the SNP suggested that Westminster should adopt the Holyrood system of declaring outside interests, although the party does not allow its representatives to work for outside organisations.

GOODBYE GIFTS

SIX Scottish MPs who are standing down at the next election will receive golden handshakes worth more than 500,000 in total.

The paydays for First Minister Alex Salmond, Celtic chairman John Reid and four other Scots MPs have been described as "outrageous" by the Taxpayers' Alliance.

Disgraced Livingston MP Jim Devine, forced to quit over his expenses, will receive a 73,000 payout. Others include Edinburgh East MP Gavin Strang and East Kilbride's Adam Ingram.

Mr Salmond is under pressure to put his 105,000 into the charitable fund he has been putting his extra salary in since he returned to Holyrood.