Jeremy Vine: Caller is ‘angry’ that MPs are allowed second jobs

MPs are allowed to have second jobs alongside their Parliamentary duties and serving their constituents, as long as they are not a Government minister or have conflicting interests. But a new Express.co.uk poll has found that a staggering 91 percent of readers think that MPs should be banned from working second jobs.

The basic annual salary of an MP is more than double the UK average and currently stands at £86,584. Several MPs split their time between the House of Commons and other work, and any additional income generated must be declared.

Last week, Labour MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, asked the Commons for a debate to be held over MPs having second jobs, referencing Tory MP Lee Anderson’s new GB News show. Mr Anderson is set to earn an additional annual salary of £100,000 for his show.

In response, Express.co.uk ran a poll from 2pm on Tuesday, June 27 to 4.30pm on Wednesday, June 28, asking readers: “Should MPs be allowed second jobs?”

A total of 2,498 votes were received with the vast majority of readers, 91 percent (2,263 people) answering “no” they should only have one job. Conversely, nine percent (221 people) said “yes” and just 14 people said they did not know.

READ MORE: Lee Anderson launches GB News show by spoon-feeding fellow MP baked beans

Dozens of comments were left below the accompanying article as readers took part in a lively debate on whether MPs should be banned from having second jobs.

The predominant view was against MPs having a second job, with many arguing that their full attention should be on serving their constituents. Username LuvUK commented: “I would suggest if an MP has time for a second job they are not working hard enough as an MP.”

Another, username Houghton Mag, remarked: “It’s a disgrace that these people don’t give their full attention to being our representatives.”

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Similarly, username Bryan_1324 said: “No, if they were doing their job as an MP properly, they would not have time for a second job. If they are not at Parliament they should be in their constituency or on rest days.”

And username Queenb added: “MPs are supposedly working full-time for the people that voted for them. If you can claim expenses like travel, household bills, food and getting subsidised meals in the commons, then you shouldn’t be allowed to have a second job.”

In the past three years, MPs have earnt more than £17million from second jobs, according to the Westminster Accounts tool, produced earlier this year by Tortoise and Sky News.

Other readers thought that MPs should be allowed to have careers alongside their Parliamentary duties. username JLA explaining: “As long as the second job does not interfere with them performing their prime job and responsibility as an MP no problem.”

Username Rinkaiso took a similar view, commenting: “Anybody should be allowed a second or third job provided they are done properly.”

While some thought that a second job could be beneficial, with username NRN writing: “Yes, certainly. Gives them an understanding of what is going on in the real world.”

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