MPs face ban on second jobs amid backlash after Osborne's Evening Standard appointment
MPs are facing a crackdown on second jobs following intense criticism of George Osborne’s appointment as the new editor of the Evening Standard.
The parliamentary Committee on Standards are planning an official review after the former Chancellor confirmed he planned to edit the newspaper alongside his role as the Conservative MP for Tatton.
Critics have suggested there could be a conflict of interests and some MPs have demanded tighter rules on MPs’ additional jobs.
Tommy Sheppard, an SNP MP on the influential committee, told the Sunday Telegraph he is shocked by Mr Osborne’s new role.
He said: “You cannot edit the Evening Standard and represent your constituents in any meaningful sense.
"How many votes would you miss in the Commons, for example? It beggars belief and I think it will fuel demands for tightening up the rules.”
The Edinburgh East MP said he would push for two new changes to the code of conduct when the committee is set to meet to discuss alterations to the rules.
The first would mean MPs would not be allowed to accept jobs that would stop them fully representing their constituencies, while the second would outline that no second job can involve more than 20 hours work a week.
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Meanwhile Lord Bew, the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, is also expected to raise concerns after claiming he is “uncomfortable” with Osborne’s latest appointment.
He said: “We have not ruled out MPs having second jobs, quite deliberately until now, but we now have to look again at our rules.
“We are going to discuss whether rules on second jobs need to be changed in the light of this. We had something that up to a degree worked. It now seems to be getting into rockier waters.”
You cannot edit the Evening Standard and represent your constituents in any meaningful sense
The former Chancellor has faced a number of calls to quit as an MP since the news of his new editor role emerged.
Ukip’s media spokesman Patrick O’Flynn MEP, a former political editor of the Daily Express who quit journalism to pursue a career in politics, said: “George Osborne is a curious appointment having almost no journalistic experience, having failed as a chancellor and bringing the Treasury into disrepute with his Project Fear campaign during the referendum.
“But the one thing he is clearly good at is networking. I hope his constituents in Tatton feel their interests will remain in the forefront of his mind.”
Angus Reilly, chairman of Tatton constituency Labour Party, said: “This has only proven what the people of Tatton have known all along.
“George Osborne’s focus is not on the people of Tatton. He should not continue as a Member of Parliament.”