For the first time full details of MPs' outside earnings have been released under new rules that now require them to reveal how much time they spend on their second jobs. Despite the raised eyebrows, there is no suggestion they have broken any rules.
It has been revealed that some former ministers are raking it in, pulling in hundreds of pounds an hour by holding down lucrative second jobs outside of the Westminster Parliament. The new House of Commons register of interests exposes the fact that dozens of MPS have nice little sidelines with private companies, and that some former cabinet members making best use of their have used their former positions, expertise and contacts are some of the biggest earners.
John Gummer, the former Tory environment secretary, who submitted parliamentary expenses for mole removal from his country estate. He has pulled in £1,666 for 20 minutes on the telephone making a contribution to a board meeting of Sovereign Reversions. That works out at some £83.33 a minute from a business that helps elderly people to refinance their homes. Citizen Gummer also earned £3,562 for two hours' work for Veolia, a waste management company, and £2,083 for three hours chairing meetings for the Association of Independent Financial Advisers. Nice if you can get it!
Patricia Hewitt, the former health secretary, earned £31,175 for 86 hours' work during July and August as an adviser to BT and Boots.
The former defence minister Adam Ingram, was paid £1,150 for three hours' work advising the International School for Security and Explosives Education.
Last month, the former Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, was paid some £8,500 in payments from Beachcroft LLP, a commercial law firm for 36 hours work.
The Times has more interesting details. Snouts in troughs or what! Roll on the Westminster General Election...
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