Should UK MPs be allowed second (or even third) jobs whilst serving MPs?

GrannyRose15 I totally agree. In the past career politicians got their out of politics experience befor they entered parliament, and they often did not stand for parliament until they were in their late 40s and even older.

Current politicians leave university, work in politcally oriented jobs, like interns, in think tanks, Trade Union HQs, (heaven forbid they should actually have worked on a factory floor!) and other parasite companies that collect around parliament util they get a seat in their late 20s or 30s.

They are generally very clever but ignorant of the lives of ordinary people, they usually only plan to be in Parliament for one or two elections before flying off to some big better paid job in an international organisation or other quasi governmental organisation.

I totally disagree. If done properly being an MP is a full time job plus plus plus. I would never vote for any MP who didn’t give their whole working life to the job. I have friends who have been MPs and it is more than a full time job if you care about your constituents.

This is exactly what is wrong with modern politics. We don’t get the right people standing as MPs because it means giving up a well paid career with little certainty that the new job will last even 5 years. Consequently we fill the commons with career politicians who have never done a proper job. Being an MP should be a part time role and all MPs should be given enough time to keep their hand in at their old job so that they have something to go back to when they lose their seat. Career politicians have not served us well over the recent years.

Newdawn

MPs should have some sort of contract which requires a minimum amount of attendance in the house of commons and at surgeries. Then people like Nadine Dorries and Matt Hancock couldn't go off and do TV programmes in the jungle for huge payments during parliament.If a minimum amount of work was required then some outside work would be ok.

It was a disgrace that she went onto IACGMOOH when she should have been in parliament.

M0nica I know they have many and varied duties but they should be accountable to their constituents, which mine certainly isn't.

As to how many hours I worked, at my last job I worked 6 days a week, I generally worked one 36 hour shift then every other working day at least 8 hours with frequent work in the evening and no overtime paid. So probably between 70 and a 100 hours a week plus admin duties.

missdeke Parliament is just a debating house. Where MPs get up and have their say, but what ever is said there is highly unlikely to change the way anyone votes and if they all demand to speak they will be luck to get a chance to speak as frequently as once a month.

Parliament, whatever its iconic status is just a talking shop. The work of government and regulating government is what is happening in meeting rooms all round the place. in cabinet offices, in phone calls to ministries and outside bodies to resolve constituent issues.

Personally, if my MP is working 60 hours a week at the process of governance and serving hs constituents and never goes near the debating chamber, I will be more than satisfied.

I mean a clever and lazy MP could be present in the chamber every day, all day, saying nothing and then blame his time in the House as the reason he is not giving his constituents the servic they expect. His excuse being that he is in parlament all the time.

If you consider that the average MP working 60 hours, is lazy and not pulling his weight. How many hours should he work?

I mean 60 hours means 10 hour day, if he takes a break at weekends, or nearly 9 hours if he works weekends as well.

How many hours did you work?

Being an MP is a full time job and given that most have to travel back and forth to their constituencies and have some sort of family life I wonder where the time would come from to accommodate a second job or indeed where the mental bandwidth would come from. Surely if the job of MP is being done properly it should take up any slack that’s left after travelling and rejuvenation time with family. If MPs need to retain skills they can do voluntary work where it’s needed and thst will help to keep their feet on the ground.

M0nica

missdeke

MPs should be subject to the same rules as others. If they can't attend parliament without a very good reason then they should be subjected to penalties. Parents of school age children are subjected to penalties if they keep them out of school, a penalty imposed by parliament, they should apply similar rules to themselves. They should heve regular surgeries weekly for their constituents and provide sick notes etc if they have to cancel for whatever reason. Slap monetary fines on them for not completing a regular working week without good reason. Maybe then they will make more of an effort to do what they are being paid for and put their duty to the country before extra jobs.

To begin with, MP's do not have regular hours of work. It is not a 9 - 5 job and never has been. The average MP works 60 hours a week, plus 8 hours travelling
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/the-first-100-days-a-survival-guide-for-new-mps

Another interesting link gives you a timetable for an average MP's day assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b3a23d2ed915d33c1a7888b/An_MP_s_typical_day_-_research_by_Prof_Emma_Crewe.pdf

These are just examples. All mps should be duty bound to complete full working weeks. Frequently we see empty benches where there should be bums on seats doing their duty to their constitueants. My MP is also a minister, I emailed him over 2 years ago regarding a problem, I received a reply from his secretary/employee saying he would look into it, yet every time I have reminded that I am still waiting for it to be looked into I have been fobbed off with a similar answer. He is never seen in and around our village in all the time that he has been the MP. Never held a surgery, or done anything useful for us.

I would expect that doing an MP's job properly would take well over 40 hours per week and could easily occupy every waking moment if conscientious MPs allowed it to.
I certainly don't think things like running a business, having a directorship, or appearing on TV reality/quiz shows should be allowed.
Doing sufficient hours to maintain professional registration is about the only legitimate exemption I can think of.

In a word NO!*

A District councillor does not have an onerous task I they are also an MP most of the constituency affairs coincide in any case, MPs don’t attend parliament all day or indeed every day, unless they are a portfolio holder there is time to do both.

I don't care how many jobs they have as long as they pay the correct income tax for the total amount they are earning. Whatci do disagree with, and always have, is the expenses they claim for 2nd homes. Rent, council tax and broadband so they can work from there but decorating, utilities, heating or insurance no way.

No, not just because it takes a lot of time being an MP but also because some have had lucrative second, third or more jobs some of which may have influenced the way they vote in Parliament, like Owen Paterson.

www.bigissue.com/news/politics/how-to-find-out-if-your-mp-has-a-second-job-and-how-much-they-get-for-it/

If they were all like him, Monica ! (average day)

First article is interesting.

missdeke

MPs should be subject to the same rules as others. If they can't attend parliament without a very good reason then they should be subjected to penalties. Parents of school age children are subjected to penalties if they keep them out of school, a penalty imposed by parliament, they should apply similar rules to themselves. They should heve regular surgeries weekly for their constituents and provide sick notes etc if they have to cancel for whatever reason. Slap monetary fines on them for not completing a regular working week without good reason. Maybe then they will make more of an effort to do what they are being paid for and put their duty to the country before extra jobs.

To begin with, MP's do not have regular hours of work. It is not a 9 - 5 job and never has been. The average MP works 60 hours a week, plus 8 hours travelling
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/the-first-100-days-a-survival-guide-for-new-mps

Another interesting link gives you a timetable for an average MP's day assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b3a23d2ed915d33c1a7888b/An_MP_s_typical_day_-_research_by_Prof_Emma_Crewe.pdf

That's interesting, I wonder if other countries do for their elected representatives?

As far as I know there is no requirement for more than token attendance for MPs...they have no contract for work

missdeke

MPs should be subject to the same rules as others. If they can't attend parliament without a very good reason then they should be subjected to penalties. Parents of school age children are subjected to penalties if they keep them out of school, a penalty imposed by parliament, they should apply similar rules to themselves. They should heve regular surgeries weekly for their constituents and provide sick notes etc if they have to cancel for whatever reason. Slap monetary fines on them for not completing a regular working week without good reason. Maybe then they will make more of an effort to do what they are being paid for and put their duty to the country before extra jobs.

👍

No they should not. If they haven’t time to represent and work for their constituents they should not be allowed to be MPs. I’ve never heard of MPs here moonlighting. I didn’t think they were allowed to.

MPs who are nurses or doctors for example, need to keep working to maintain skills and keep their registration. Apart from that sort of issue, no, they don't need high powered highly paid jobs that take them away from what they have been elected to do. Maybe they need to be paid more as MPs though.

Wyllow3

I didn't realise you could be an MP and local councillor. That doesn't sit well with me.

I do accept that MP's with families living in very expensive constituencies may need relevant expenses carefully defined.

Our new MP is also a local councillor, quite likely she will stand down at the next local election, until then does both jobs and gets both salaries.
A single bedroom flat free is enough in my opinion, they can upgrade at their own expense if they need to, they also get expenses which cover traveling.

I didn't realise you could be an MP and local councillor. That doesn't sit well with me.

I do accept that MP's with families living in very expensive constituencies may need relevant expenses carefully defined.

No they still need skills especially Professional ones.
Also how many are local Councillors, that's another job.
My Son has been approached several time to stand as an MP, he can't afford to take a pay cut , with the cost of housing in his area.

MPs should be subject to the same rules as others. If they can't attend parliament without a very good reason then they should be subjected to penalties. Parents of school age children are subjected to penalties if they keep them out of school, a penalty imposed by parliament, they should apply similar rules to themselves. They should heve regular surgeries weekly for their constituents and provide sick notes etc if they have to cancel for whatever reason. Slap monetary fines on them for not completing a regular working week without good reason. Maybe then they will make more of an effort to do what they are being paid for and put their duty to the country before extra jobs.

They wouldn’t do a shift at a hospital 😆

Wouldn't they?

members.parliament.uk/member/4573/registeredinterests