Labour minister’s swipe at Nigel Farage in probe into MP second jobs

A Government minister took a veiled swipe at TV host MPs like Nigel Farage during a probe into second jobs.

Lucy Powell warned that employment agreements with media companies could lead to a perception MPs are making money thanks to their position. The Labour frontbencher also warned second jobs could cause conflicts of interest.

But she ruled out a blanket ban on MPs doing paid work outside their Parliamentary duties. The Government is drawing up plans to clamp down on MPs getting paid for jobs that distract from their roles and damage Parliament’s repution.

During a question session with the Commons Standards Committee she did not name Mr Farage or his Reform UK colleague Lee Anderson, who are both regular hosts on GB News. But she did say that such agreements could cause “reputational concern”.

Since becoming an MP in July Mr Farage has declared £219,505.40 in earnings from the channel, while Mr Anderson is paid £100,000 a year to host and contribute on the network.

Mr Farage sparked a backlash when he skipped a vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in order to host his show in November. At the weekend The Mirror revealed Mr Farage has banked a massive £571,585 from side hustles on top of his salary since July.

Ms Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, said: “I think the issue that is of potential reputational concern for the House as a whole is where there are paid ongoing employment contracts with media organisations – and other organisations – where they could give rise to a percieved conflict of interest or whether they could give rise to this perception that someone is monetising their position as a Member of Parlament.”

Labour’s manifesto promised a clampdown on MPs ‘taking up roles that stop them serving their constituency and country’. But new rules are still being drawn up.

Ms Powell said she had ruled out introducing a cap on earnings or the number of hours MPs are allowed to do outside their jobs. And she conceded it will be difficult to bring in a process to decide whether an MP is being distracted because of outside work.

Describing being an MP she said: “It’s not a full time job, it’s a way of life.” And she continued: “I’m never not at work really.”

But she said a blanket ban on second jobs would be ineffective and could prevent people standing for Parliament. She also pointed out that some professions – such as doctors and lawyers – require people to do a minimum number of hours in order to maintain their registration.

Ms Powell said that as MPs risk losing their seats at every election, the Government is not intending to stop politicians from these professions continuing to practice.