Root-and-branch reforms needed to tackle MP’s outside earnings scandal

by Stephen Flynn
Posted on
1 year ago
2 min read

Being elected as an MP is a privilege and must never be treated as anything less than a full-time job.

Yet, dozens of Tory, Labour Party and Lib Dem MPs seem to be more interested in raking in cash through second jobs, and dark money donations, than standing up for their constituents.

It’s disgraceful that senior members of the Tory party are raking in millions, while seeking to deny fair pay for working people suffering from thirteen years of Tory cuts, Brexit, and the Westminster-made cost of living crisis.

Two former Prime Ministers have raked in £3.6 million since the last General Election

Since leaving office, Boris Johnson has made over £1 million making just 4 speeches in the United States, India, and Portugal.

On days when parliament was sitting, he was busy lining his pockets on the far side of the planet.

Theresa May has declared almost £2.8 million worth of donations, secondary earnings, and other benefits – more than any of her colleagues.

The egregious examples of Tory and Labour Party MPs earning millions in outside earnings from second jobs and receiving millions in murky donations from non-transparent and questionable sources, showed the Westminster system is broken and corrupt.

This Westminster scandal makes a mockery of Rishi Sunak's claims to lead a government with integrity and accountability. If he has an ounce of either, he will commit to full scale reform now.
STEPHEN FLYNN MP
SNP Westminster Group Leader

To the public this doesn’t look anything like public service, it looks like profiteering.

There must be root-and-branch reform of MP outside earnings and dark money donations.

This is the MP expenses scandal all over again.

The Westminster system is broken and corrupt.

This brewing scandal shows Scotland would be much better off as an independent country, escaping Westminster control for good.

Having raised the issue of Boris Johnson’s outside earnings at PMQs on Wednesday, I’ve now written to Rishi Sunak calling for him to introduce robust UK legislation to ban dark money donations, block MPs from taking second jobs that involve a considerable time commitment or conflict of interest, and to ensure tight restrictions and full transparency on outside earnings.

UK government legislation must be introduced to ban dark money donations, block MPs from taking second jobs that involve a considerable time commitment or conflict of interest, and to ensure tight restrictions and full transparency on outside earnings.

Such legislation would be far better use of parliamentary time than your current proposal to force through a law that will remove basic democratic rights from trade unions and workers during a cost-of-living crisis.