Labour repeat vow to ban MPs’ second jobs after Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng demand £10,000 for day’s work
LABOUR doubled down on vows to ban second jobs last night after top Tories were caught asking for thousands of pounds in extra cash for side-gigs.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and ex-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng were left red-faced after asking for up to £10,000 a day to take on extra work for a fake firm.
The MPs – who already earn £84,000 a year in the Commons – were in talks about raking in even more money for consultancy jobs on the side as part of a hit job by campaign group Led By Donkeys.
The pair did not break any rules but were accused of putting their constituents second above extra cash.
Labour’s Angela Rayner hit out: “This is beyond shameful. Being an MP isn’t a second job. It is the job. Labour will put an end to this racket.”
However, Labour were forced to admit that their policy would force frontbencher David Lammy to quit his own radio talk show.
Lucy Powell awkwardly admitted that the shadow foreign secretary may have to give up his side-gig hosting LBC shows if Sir Keir Starmer makes his way to No10.
Defending the shadow cabinet minister on Times Radio, she said it was “different” to paid consultancy, despite Mr Lammy earning the most outside income than any other Labour MP.
But she admitted: “Would David Lammy, his particular position, fall foul of the ban on second jobs?
“Probably it would… That would be something he would have to have to consider at that point.
“I think my position, the position of the Labour Party, is that we think MP’s second jobs should be banned.”