Moonlighting MPs
The moonlighting behaviour of Westminster MPs would simply not be tolerated in the Scottish Parliament and The Independent does a great public service by exposing a Tory MP, Geoffrey Cox, who essentially operates on a part-time basis.
But Cox is far from alone, of course, and one of the biggest offenders is Labour's Gordon Brown who spend long periods of time outside of the UK, for example at the Abu Dhabi campus of the New York University.
Now Gordon channels all of his extra-parliamentary earnings into a private company, the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown, as if this makes any difference to the fact that he is not acting as a full-time member of parliament.
The fact of the matter is that if Gordon has much bigger and better things to do with his time, then he should resign his seat and let someone else get on with what has always been regarded, by sensible people at least, as a full-time job.
Because as things stand both Gordon Brown and the Labour Party are behaving very badly and if you ask me, they are treating the taxpayer and the Westminster Parliament with contempt.
MP who earned £450,000 as a barrister accused of 'bunking off'
Geoffrey Cox has devoted 1,130 hours since 1 September 2013 to six commercial-law cases
By MILES GOSLETT- The Independent
A Tory MP has made nearly £500,000 after spending more than a thousand hours in 13 months working as a barrister, provoking allegations that he is not serious about his political career.
At the same time as earning £67,060 per year plus expenses representing Torridge and West Devon, Geoffrey Cox has devoted 1,130 hours since 1 September 2013 to six commercial-law cases.
In total he has spent the equivalent of more than 100 10-hour days on legal work during recess but also when Parliament was sitting, earning as much as £1,333 per hour to make a total of £452,545.
Last night, Tamasin Cave, the director of the pressure group Spinwatch, alleged: “He’s not just moonlighting – he seems to be bunking off work as an MP to focus on his other job as a barrister.
“If I was one of his constituents, I would want to fire him. Being an MP is a serious job but he doesn’t seem to regard it as such.”
Mr Cox, an MP since 2005, makes the most money through professional outside interests, as opposed to investments, of any member of the Commons. His earnings average out at almost £35,000 per month on top of his MP’s salary.
Last night, he defended the money he has made from his legal work, arguing that “people are kept in employment” as a result of his work who “contribute in taxes”.
He added: “Each year, I pay income tax back to the public that exceeds my gross salary as an MP, while I still work average 50- to 60-hour weeks in and for the constituency.”
Mr Cox’s attendance record in Parliament is below the average for most MPs, but it shows that from September 2013 to October 2014, he was present on 69 days when a vote was being taken on government legislation – which is roughly two-thirds of the overall total of days when there will have been a whipped vote.
According to figures published by the House of Commons last month, Mr Cox spent 160 hours working on a case between 1 March and 30 June. For this he was paid £105,750 – £661 per hour. He took on another case beginning on 1 May and ending on 31 August which absorbed 200 hours of his time. It paid £136,200 – £681 per hour.
Mr Cox picked up £40,000 for spending 30 hours on a case between 1 April and 31 July. This earned him his highest fee – £1,333 per hour.
“My outside work is professional consultancy work as a Queen’s Counsel,” Mr Cox said. “On average I spend around 15-20 hours per week on this, the majority of which is done at weekends or during parliamentary recesses.”
Moonlighting MPs (26 October 2014)
The Guardian came up with a good story the other day with a report on 'moonlighting' Westminster MPs and their second or even third jobs.
Gordon Brown comes out as 'Top of the Pops' and argues a rather ridiculous defence that the extra money he earns all goes towards the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown which is a private company, of course, not a registered charity.
But so what?
Because the real issue is that MP's job is a full-time undertaking and if someone spends so much time out of the country, how can they possibly be on top of the job and be operating to the best of their ability.
One thing's for sure this kind of abuse doesn't happen in the Scottish Parliament, so why do the voters put up with such nonsense at Westminster.
Former ministers among those saying that they received combined £7.1m in income from outside parliament
By James Ball and Harry Davies - The Guardian
MPs with large declared outside earnings. Top row: George Galloway, Geoffrey Cox, Sir Edward Garnier and Nadine Dorries. Second row: Sir Nicholas Soames, Sir Tony Baldry, John Redwood and John Hemming. Photograph: Various
MPs, including former coalition ministers who have since returned to the backbenches, have declared more than £7.1m earnings from second jobs and outside interests, according to parliamentary records.
MPs, including former coalition ministers who have since returned to the backbenches, have declared more than £7.1m earnings from second jobs and outside interests, according to parliamentary records.
An analysis by the Guardian shows that 26 MPs declared more earnings from directorships, paid employment or shareholdings than they did from their parliamentary salary, with more than 20 declaring more than £100,000 in outside earnings in the latest register of members’ interests.
One of the top earners is Charles Hendry, who was until September 2012 a minister of state at the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Hendry says he received an income of £100,000 from three companies working in the energy sector: Forewind, an offshore wind group, Atlantic Superconnection, a proposal to bring energy into the UK from Iceland, and the energy and commodities group Vitol.
The advisory committee on business appointments, which approves outside roles for former ministers, noted Hendry in his ministerial role had had dealings with companies he now works for, and with their competitors.
However, it approved the roles on condition that he did not draw on “privileged information” learned as a minister, and did not “personally lobby” the government for two years from his last day in office – a period that expired last month.
Hendry told the Guardian his private sector roles were preparation for his departure from parliament at the next election.
“As you will be aware, I am leaving parliament at the next election,” he said. “As there is no longer a resettlement payment for MPs who step down voluntarily (quite rightly), I have started the process of developing external interests ahead of that time.”
One of the top earners is Charles Hendry, who was until September 2012 a minister of state at the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Hendry says he received an income of £100,000 from three companies working in the energy sector: Forewind, an offshore wind group, Atlantic Superconnection, a proposal to bring energy into the UK from Iceland, and the energy and commodities group Vitol.
The advisory committee on business appointments, which approves outside roles for former ministers, noted Hendry in his ministerial role had had dealings with companies he now works for, and with their competitors.
However, it approved the roles on condition that he did not draw on “privileged information” learned as a minister, and did not “personally lobby” the government for two years from his last day in office – a period that expired last month.
Hendry told the Guardian his private sector roles were preparation for his departure from parliament at the next election.
“As you will be aware, I am leaving parliament at the next election,” he said. “As there is no longer a resettlement payment for MPs who step down voluntarily (quite rightly), I have started the process of developing external interests ahead of that time.”
Andrew Mitchell declared £103,000 in earnings, primarily for consulting for up to £6,000 a day. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters
Andrew Mitchell, whose short tenure as chief whip was ended by the Plebgate row, is another former minister with substantial private sector earnings. Mitchell declared £103,000 in earnings, primarily for consulting for up to £6,000 a day for firms including the banking group Investec and the Montrose Associates consultancy group, which lists “political/security analysis” among its specialisms.
Andrew Mitchell, whose short tenure as chief whip was ended by the Plebgate row, is another former minister with substantial private sector earnings. Mitchell declared £103,000 in earnings, primarily for consulting for up to £6,000 a day for firms including the banking group Investec and the Montrose Associates consultancy group, which lists “political/security analysis” among its specialisms.
Another former coalition minister with private sector ties is Mark Prisk, minister of state for housing and local government until last October, who now declares an income of between £15,000 and £20,000 a year from Essential Living, a private rental provider.
Requests for comment to Mitchell and Prisk were not returned by the time of publication.
Requests for comment to Mitchell and Prisk were not returned by the time of publication.
There is no suggestion any of the former ministers breached parliamentary rules or the ministerial code.
However, transparency groups said such roles risked creating the appearance of conflicts of interest, even if no such conflict actually existed.
“The concern is not just that these outside jobs put demands on an MP’s time, but that they shift loyalty and attention away from the public interest to representing the narrow private interests of their other employer,” said Tamasin Cave of the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency.
“As their paymasters, the public has the right to know far more about MPs’ jobs on the side. What, for example, is a property developer that pays an MP £10,000 a year getting for its money?
“It’s also valid to question whether the promise of future employment is having an influence on ministerial decisions, as well as what advantages they are bringing to the private sector, like their insider knowledge of how government works.”
However, transparency groups said such roles risked creating the appearance of conflicts of interest, even if no such conflict actually existed.
“The concern is not just that these outside jobs put demands on an MP’s time, but that they shift loyalty and attention away from the public interest to representing the narrow private interests of their other employer,” said Tamasin Cave of the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency.
“As their paymasters, the public has the right to know far more about MPs’ jobs on the side. What, for example, is a property developer that pays an MP £10,000 a year getting for its money?
“It’s also valid to question whether the promise of future employment is having an influence on ministerial decisions, as well as what advantages they are bringing to the private sector, like their insider knowledge of how government works.”
Most of Westminster’s highest earners, however, have been backbenchers for the duration of this parliament.
On paper, the top outside earner is former prime minister Gordon Brown. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
On paper, the top outside earner is former prime minister Gordon Brown, who declared £492,331 from outside activities primarily from public speaking engagements around the world. He also declared a further £583,985 in travel, accommodation and compensation for staff and research contributions.
On paper, the top outside earner is former prime minister Gordon Brown, who declared £492,331 from outside activities primarily from public speaking engagements around the world. He also declared a further £583,985 in travel, accommodation and compensation for staff and research contributions.
However, none of the sums declared are received by Brown himself. On his parliamentary declaration, he states: “I am not receiving any money from this engagement personally.
“It is being held by the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown to support my ongoing involvement in public life.”
Other top 10 parliamentary earners include George Galloway who, since his election in Bradford West in 2012, is the Respect party’s sole MP. Galloway says that he earned £265,350 – almost four times his parliamentary salary – in outside earnings.
These came primarily from paid weekly appearances for the Iranian state-owned broadcaster Press TV, for which Galloway received £100,650, and a further £96,000 – not including air fares – for fortnightly broadcasts from Beirut for Al Mayadeen, which does not publicly disclose its financial backers.
A spokesman for Galloway accused the Guardian of “attempts to smear” the MP, and said “his media earnings are for a few hours’ work a week”.
“His programmes enable him to reach a far greater audience than would otherwise be the case for his views, both domestically and internationally,” he continued. “No one from these TV stations determines editorial content.”
Galloway’s spokesman made no comment as to the specific figures raised by the Guardian.
“It is being held by the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown to support my ongoing involvement in public life.”
Other top 10 parliamentary earners include George Galloway who, since his election in Bradford West in 2012, is the Respect party’s sole MP. Galloway says that he earned £265,350 – almost four times his parliamentary salary – in outside earnings.
These came primarily from paid weekly appearances for the Iranian state-owned broadcaster Press TV, for which Galloway received £100,650, and a further £96,000 – not including air fares – for fortnightly broadcasts from Beirut for Al Mayadeen, which does not publicly disclose its financial backers.
A spokesman for Galloway accused the Guardian of “attempts to smear” the MP, and said “his media earnings are for a few hours’ work a week”.
“His programmes enable him to reach a far greater audience than would otherwise be the case for his views, both domestically and internationally,” he continued. “No one from these TV stations determines editorial content.”
Galloway’s spokesman made no comment as to the specific figures raised by the Guardian.
George Galloway Photograph: Anita Russo/Rex
Geoffrey Cox, Stephen Phillips and Sir Edward Garnier also graced the top 10, all three from income derived from their work as barristers, which for all three was in excess of £200,000.
Garnier defended the outside roles of himself and other MPs as important in avoiding creating a professional political class.
Geoffrey Cox, Stephen Phillips and Sir Edward Garnier also graced the top 10, all three from income derived from their work as barristers, which for all three was in excess of £200,000.
Garnier defended the outside roles of himself and other MPs as important in avoiding creating a professional political class.
“The two-jobs stab is a bit lame and unoriginal,” he said. “It is, in my view, essential that the Commons, and thus the frontbench teams in both government and opposition, are not just reserved for professional politicians without experience of the world outside Westminster … Parliament is the better for having MPs who do not spend and have not spent their whole time inside politics.”
The Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, who declared £187,000 of income, primarily from a software company he founded before becoming an MP, noted that “[i]t happens to be that I pay more in taxes than my net parliamentary salary and hence am value for money as an MP”.
Conservative Nadine Dorries, meanwhile, whose £167,140 comes primarily from novel writing, noted no one ever queried whether she could manage the time pressures of motherhood and a role as an MP.
The Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, who declared £187,000 of income, primarily from a software company he founded before becoming an MP, noted that “[i]t happens to be that I pay more in taxes than my net parliamentary salary and hence am value for money as an MP”.
Conservative Nadine Dorries, meanwhile, whose £167,140 comes primarily from novel writing, noted no one ever queried whether she could manage the time pressures of motherhood and a role as an MP.
“My outside earnings are mainly as a result of my writing, which I began when my youngest daughter left home for university and I found myself no longer required as a cook, chauffeur and laundress at the weekends,” she said.
“I find it really interesting that no one ever queried the time I gave to being a mother and an MP. I am however absolutely delighted that my writing, which is in effect my weekend hobby, is so lucrative and I urge anyone who has ever considered writing to not wait as long as I did and to give it a go.”
“I find it really interesting that no one ever queried the time I gave to being a mother and an MP. I am however absolutely delighted that my writing, which is in effect my weekend hobby, is so lucrative and I urge anyone who has ever considered writing to not wait as long as I did and to give it a go.”
Where's Gordon? (6 October 2014)
The part-time Labour MP and former party leader Gordon Brown is getting his knickers in a right old twist over 'Devo Max' and more powers for the Scottish Parliament.
The latest wheeze is the launch of a petition demanding that the Prime Minister, David Cameron, honour the vow on home rule for Scotland which all three UK party leaders (David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg) made ahead of the Scottish independence referendum.
Now if you ask me this is a very strange way to behave, since a petition is normal used to persuade a government body to do something, or to not do something, as the case may be.
Equal pay would be a good example of an issue that would lend itself to a petition, by calling for the government to enforce more rigorously legislation which has been the law of the land for over 40 years, ever since the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
Now it would have been good to see a Labour inspired petition in support of equal pay over the past 10 years when the fight has been raging in Scotland, often against Labour controlled councils in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.
Now if you ask me this is a very strange way to behave, since a petition is normal used to persuade a government body to do something, or to not do something, as the case may be.
Equal pay would be a good example of an issue that would lend itself to a petition, by calling for the government to enforce more rigorously legislation which has been the law of the land for over 40 years, ever since the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
Now it would have been good to see a Labour inspired petition in support of equal pay over the past 10 years when the fight has been raging in Scotland, often against Labour controlled councils in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.
But sadly, Gordon and his Labour petitioners have been nowhere to be seen on the thorny subject of equal pay and yet they have the time and energy to launch a petition on a subject when all three UK parties have already pledged their support, in principle, for home rule, Devo Max and more powers for the Scottish Parliament.
Little wonder then that the Labour Party's fortunes in Scotland continue to decline.
The Scottish Labour Party seems to have outsourced its leadership function to Gordon Brown in recent weeks.
Because the part-time Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seems to be running the whole show while the party's putative Scottish leader, Johann Lamont, is nowhere to be seen, reduced to the role of a bag carrier while Gordon bangs his drum.
Now I find this remarkable because Gordon Brown could easily arrange to return to front-line politics in The Scottish Parliament, but I'm sure he won't do so because he has bigger fish too fry and other interests in his life.
Yet the former Labour leader still calls all the shots when it comes to the Scottish Labour Party, for example, one of his supporters and political proteges, Iain Gray MSP, has just been appointed to represent Labour on the all-party commission which is looking at the issue of Devo Max and new powers for the Scottish Parliament.
Meanwhile, Gordon keeps up his exhortations about what should happen and why, for example that the Scottish Parliament should not have full powers over income tax because apparently this represents some kind of elaborate Tory trap, which sounds a bit paranoid if you ask me.
In fact, if you ask me, Gordon Brown's behaviour is all about what's in the best interests of the Labour Party and Gordon Brown himself, rather than what is good or best for the country at large, for example on the issue of English votes for English laws.
Because it seems to me that you cannot convincingly argue that Scots should have control over their own affairs, 'home rule' in Scotland, while trying to deny the same to voters in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Yet that is exactly what Gordon Brown is trying to achieve because the votes of Scottish MPs (which have been mainly Labour up until now) have proved very useful down the years to Labour Governments in the Westminster Parliament.
But just imagine a majority of Scottish MPs were drawn from the SNP or parties other than Labour - you can rest assured that this ridiculous argument would be quickly thrown into reverse before bing abandoned altogether.
So my message to Gordon is that if he's really serious about Scotland and the Scottish Parliament, then commit yourself to the cause instead of spending so much time in Abu Dhabi or working for the United Nations.
Not as glamorous, for sure, and subject to a great deal more scrutiny from your peers who wouldn't put up with you having so many extra curricular activities away from your day job.
But the bottom line is that if Gordon really does believe that his country needs him, then it's high time that he stepped up to the mark.
"Where's Gordon Brown?" I asked myself the other day because the part-time Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seemed not be to at the Labour Party conference in Manchester after intervening in the independence referendum to promise Scotland 'home rule', federalism and more powers than you could shake a shitty stick at.
At first I though Gordo might have flown to Abu Dhabi where he is reportedly contracted to spend 70 days a year at the Abu Dhabi campus of the New York University where he has a second job as a 'distinguished global leader in residence' (DGLIR).
Now when I first heard Gordon's grand title, DGLIR, I thought that he must be have some personal image problems because why you you call yourself that or allow anyone else to give you such a ridiculous title?
Anyway that's another matter for another day, because soon afterwards I read a report that Gordon was at the United Nations in New York where he has a third job as a special envoy on educational matters, which also uses up a lot of his time in far flung places and foreign travel.
We are only eight months away from the next general election and the big question is will Gordon resign his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath to concentrate on the non-parliamentary interests which take up so much of his time?
I don't know to be honest because he doesn't confide in me, but if he were to ask my advice I would tell him to step down and let someone else pick up the baton because MPs at Westminster are supposed to be full-time, not part-time representatives, of course.
And if his name was Nadine Dorries rather than Gordon Brown the Labour Party at Westminster would be kicking up a great fuss.
Where's Gordon? (3 October 2014)
The Scottish Labour Party seems to have outsourced its leadership function to Gordon Brown in recent weeks.
Because the part-time Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seems to be running the whole show while the party's putative Scottish leader, Johann Lamont, is nowhere to be seen, reduced to the role of a bag carrier while Gordon bangs his drum.
Now I find this remarkable because Gordon Brown could easily arrange to return to front-line politics in The Scottish Parliament, but I'm sure he won't do so because he has bigger fish too fry and other interests in his life.
Yet the former Labour leader still calls all the shots when it comes to the Scottish Labour Party, for example, one of his supporters and political proteges, Iain Gray MSP, has just been appointed to represent Labour on the all-party commission which is looking at the issue of Devo Max and new powers for the Scottish Parliament.
Meanwhile, Gordon keeps up his exhortations about what should happen and why, for example that the Scottish Parliament should not have full powers over income tax because apparently this represents some kind of elaborate Tory trap, which sounds a bit paranoid if you ask me.
In fact, if you ask me, Gordon Brown's behaviour is all about what's in the best interests of the Labour Party and Gordon Brown himself, rather than what is good or best for the country at large, for example on the issue of English votes for English laws.
Because it seems to me that you cannot convincingly argue that Scots should have control over their own affairs, 'home rule' in Scotland, while trying to deny the same to voters in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Yet that is exactly what Gordon Brown is trying to achieve because the votes of Scottish MPs (which have been mainly Labour up until now) have proved very useful down the years to Labour Governments in the Westminster Parliament.
But just imagine a majority of Scottish MPs were drawn from the SNP or parties other than Labour - you can rest assured that this ridiculous argument would be quickly thrown into reverse before bing abandoned altogether.
So my message to Gordon is that if he's really serious about Scotland and the Scottish Parliament, then commit yourself to the cause instead of spending so much time in Abu Dhabi or working for the United Nations.
Not as glamorous, for sure, and subject to a great deal more scrutiny from your peers who wouldn't put up with you having so many extra curricular activities away from your day job.
But the bottom line is that if Gordon really does believe that his country needs him, then it's high time that he stepped up to the mark.
Where's Gordo? (27 September 2014)
"Where's Gordon Brown?" I asked myself the other day because the part-time Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seemed not be to at the Labour Party conference in Manchester after intervening in the independence referendum to promise Scotland 'home rule', federalism and more powers than you could shake a shitty stick at.
At first I though Gordo might have flown to Abu Dhabi where he is reportedly contracted to spend 70 days a year at the Abu Dhabi campus of the New York University where he has a second job as a 'distinguished global leader in residence' (DGLIR).
Now when I first heard Gordon's grand title, DGLIR, I thought that he must be have some personal image problems because why you you call yourself that or allow anyone else to give you such a ridiculous title?
Anyway that's another matter for another day, because soon afterwards I read a report that Gordon was at the United Nations in New York where he has a third job as a special envoy on educational matters, which also uses up a lot of his time in far flung places and foreign travel.
We are only eight months away from the next general election and the big question is will Gordon resign his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath to concentrate on the non-parliamentary interests which take up so much of his time?
I don't know to be honest because he doesn't confide in me, but if he were to ask my advice I would tell him to step down and let someone else pick up the baton because MPs at Westminster are supposed to be full-time, not part-time representatives, of course.
And if his name was Nadine Dorries rather than Gordon Brown the Labour Party at Westminster would be kicking up a great fuss.
Rampant Sexism (12 November 2012)
The Conservative MP for Mid-Befordshire - Nadine Dorries - swans off from the House of Commons for up to 30 days to take part in a celebrity TV programme - which is made in some remote part of Australia.
Result - she gets 'pelters' from all quarters and deservedly so - including from the Deputy Labour Leader - Harriet Harman - while standing in at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).
Ms Harman famous for her support of equalities issues even made a lame joke at Nadine's expense - something about the Tory MP having to deal with all kinds of snakes and toads - before she even arrived in the jungle.
So why is the row in the House of Commons so sexist?
Because lots of other MPs swan off when it suits them - including Harriet's Labour colleague and former Prime Minister - Gordon Brown.
Except Gordon is away from his day job for much more time than Nadine Dorries - 70 days a year (every year) in one job alone - at the New York University in Abu Dhabi, for example.
Yet no one says a word - or makes jokes at Prime Minister's Questions.
Maybe they'll start doing so now.
I certainly hope so because it would be a breath of fresh air - and thoroughly deserved.
The Conservative MP for Mid-Befordshire - Nadine Dorries - swans off from the House of Commons for up to 30 days to take part in a celebrity TV programme - which is made in some remote part of Australia.
Result - she gets 'pelters' from all quarters and deservedly so - including from the Deputy Labour Leader - Harriet Harman - while standing in at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).
Ms Harman famous for her support of equalities issues even made a lame joke at Nadine's expense - something about the Tory MP having to deal with all kinds of snakes and toads - before she even arrived in the jungle.
So why is the row in the House of Commons so sexist?
Because lots of other MPs swan off when it suits them - including Harriet's Labour colleague and former Prime Minister - Gordon Brown.
Except Gordon is away from his day job for much more time than Nadine Dorries - 70 days a year (every year) in one job alone - at the New York University in Abu Dhabi, for example.
Yet no one says a word - or makes jokes at Prime Minister's Questions.
Maybe they'll start doing so now.
I certainly hope so because it would be a breath of fresh air - and thoroughly deserved.
