Boris Johnson’s recent attempt to overturn Owen Paterson’s suspension for violating parliamentary rules on paid advocacy has sent shockwaves through Westminster. This incident has reignited the debate on whether MPs should have outside jobs alongside their political responsibilities. Labour saw an opportunity to revive the “Tory sleaze” accusations that plagued Sir John Major’s administration in the 1990s, triggering a frenzy against MPs with external interests.
As Sir Keir Starmer took the floor to announce Labour’s plans to restrict secondary employment, the Prime Minister attempted to take the lead by unveiling his own proposals on Twitter. In a letter to the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Johnson suggested an outright ban on consultancies, where MPs provide advice to companies that retain their services, as well as an unspecified limitation on backbenchers prioritizing external interests over those of their constituents.
This latter provision arises from the controversy surrounding Sir Geoffrey Cox, the former Attorney General, who spent 1,000 hours last year advising the British Virgin Islands in a public inquiry. The proposed rule change appears to indicate that such work is acceptable as long as it does not consume too much time. On this matter, Sir Keir, who also conducted legal work as an MP before joining the shadow cabinet, is no different from Sir Geoffrey in terms of hours billed.
Mr. Johnson has wisely refrained from endorsing Labour’s push for an almost complete ban on secondary jobs. However, it should be noted that serving as a government minister is also a paid occupation that keeps MPs away from their supposed “main job.” The historical precedent recognizes this, as MPs were unpaid until long ago, and until 1926, they had to win a by-election to join the government.
Pollsters likely report that voters believe MPs should focus solely on their activities in Westminster, even though having experience as a lawyer, doctor, dentist, or journalist can provide them with valuable insights for framing legislation. Johnson’s attempt to navigate the fallout from this self-inflicted debacle involves making it more difficult for his colleagues to maintain a career if their time in Parliament is curtailed. They are unlikely to be receptive to this idea.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Boris Johnson’s recent attempt to overturn Owen Paterson’s suspension for violating parliamentary rules on paid advocacy has sent shockwaves through Westminster. This incident has reignited the debate on whether MPs should have outside jobs alongside their political responsibilities. Labour saw an opportunity to revive the “Tory sleaze” accusations that plagued Sir John Major’s administration in the 1990s, triggering a frenzy against MPs with external interests.
As Sir Keir Starmer took the floor to announce Labour’s plans to restrict secondary employment, the Prime Minister attempted to take the lead by unveiling his own proposals on Twitter. In a letter to the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Johnson suggested an outright ban on consultancies, where MPs provide advice to companies that retain their services, as well as an unspecified limitation on backbenchers prioritizing external interests over those of their constituents.
This latter provision arises from the controversy surrounding Sir Geoffrey Cox, the former Attorney General, who spent 1,000 hours last year advising the British Virgin Islands in a public inquiry. The proposed rule change appears to indicate that such work is acceptable as long as it does not consume too much time. On this matter, Sir Keir, who also conducted legal work as an MP before joining the shadow cabinet, is no different from Sir Geoffrey in terms of hours billed.
Mr. Johnson has wisely refrained from endorsing Labour’s push for an almost complete ban on secondary jobs. However, it should be noted that serving as a government minister is also a paid occupation that keeps MPs away from their supposed “main job.” The historical precedent recognizes this, as MPs were unpaid until long ago, and until 1926, they had to win a by-election to join the government.
Pollsters likely report that voters believe MPs should focus solely on their activities in Westminster, even though having experience as a lawyer, doctor, dentist, or journalist can provide them with valuable insights for framing legislation. Johnson’s attempt to navigate the fallout from this self-inflicted debacle involves making it more difficult for his colleagues to maintain a career if their time in Parliament is curtailed. They are unlikely to be receptive to this idea.