Sir Keir Starmer has defended shadow overseas secretary David Lammy incomes £200,000 from second jobs this parliament – however stated the foundations have to be stricter.
Sky News and Tortoise Media have introduced collectively all MPs’ earnings from second jobs and donations into one database for the primary time within the Westminster Accounts database.
Mr Lammy is considered one of solely two Labour MPs within the high 20 earners and he has declared earnings from greater than 40 completely different sources – essentially the most of any MP – totalling £202,599 since this parliament began in December 2019.
But Labour chief Sir Keir has backed a ban on second jobs for MPs, with some exceptions.
Westminster Accounts: Find out how a lot your MP is incomes from second jobs
Reacting to Mr Lammy’s excessive earnings, Labour chief Sir Keir advised Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: “I think David does a lot of media work, and I think media work and writing books is all part of the political process.
“But there is a dialogue available, I used to be urging the entire House of Commons to agree new guidelines as a result of I do assume we must always eliminate second jobs with some exceptions.
“Some people have jobs where they need to top up their skills. And I do think if you write a political book that may be grounds for an exemption.
“But I nonetheless need the House of Commons to agree new guidelines that are stricter than the foundations that we have got – the earlier we will do this, the higher.”
Labour chief and Tory minister questioned on Westminster Accounts – politics newest
Sir Keir added that he thinks collating MPs second job earnings as a part of the Westminster Accounts challenge is a “good thing”.
“The more transparency, the better, so that everybody can see exactly what has been declared and ask whatever they want about it,” he added.
There isn’t any suggestion Mr Lammy or any MP has carried out something improper however it’s usually tough for the general public to obviously see how a lot MPs are incomes on high of their base wage and what work they’re doing. But that has now been collated within the Westminster Accounts database.
Sky News acquired no response from both Mr Lammy or the Labour Party about whether or not his work would qualify as an “exemption” from Sir Keir’s deliberate ban on second jobs.
At the top of final yr, a Labour overview of the structure by former prime minister Gordon Brown beneficial banning second jobs however with an exemption for MPs who have to work to take care of skilled {qualifications} akin to docs and attorneys.
Sir Keir endorsed the suggestions however there has but to be a clear-cut checklist of jobs that will probably be exempt.
Read extra:
Transparency in politics usually feels prefer it falls quick – we need to shine a lightweight on that
Westminster Accounts: Following the cash
How to discover the database for your self
In the previous, Mr Lammy has defended his radio present, saying he’s “the only black presenter on LBC” and it’s “important for my constituents”.
Jess Phillips is the one different Labour MP within the high 20, rating at quantity 19 with £162,838 of exterior earnings that come from a spread of locations – together with virtually £65,000 for an advance on a guide, £25,000 for showing on Have I Got News For You, and simply shy of £30,000 for columns within the Independent.
Source: information.sky.com”