The UK government has abandoned plans to impose a cap on MPs' earnings from second jobs, months after a sleaze scandal threatened Boris Johnson's leadership. Ministers told the Commons standards committee that a time limit or earnings ceiling would be 'impractical'.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had pledged to crack down on outside work following the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal and revelations that Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox earned nearly £6 million as a lawyer while in Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab previously suggested limits could be set by hours or amount, with a target of 10-15 hours per week.
However, in a submission seen by the Guardian, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay and Leader of the House Mark Spencer stated that fixed constraints would not address concerns over paid advocacy and could prohibit activities like book writing that do not bring undue influence. Boris Johnson himself registered an £88,000 advance for a book in 2015.
The government said it would support reforms to restrict the type of outside work MPs can undertake, such as banning paid parliamentary advice or consultancy services, but will wait for the committee's final report before making a final decision. The Committee on Standards in Public Life had proposed an indicative limit on hours and remuneration, but the government rejected this approach.
Numerous Conservative MPs criticised the proposed changes, with Craig Whittaker calling them 'more nonsense' and Philip Dunne warning that a ban on paid parliamentary consultancy could lose experienced experts from the House of Lords.
