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Second jobs: Voters decide if MP has right priorities, says Dominic Raab Second jobs: Voters decide if MP has right priorities, says Dominic Raab
(about 1 hour later)
It is up to voters to decide whether MPs with second jobs have "the right priorities", Dominic Raab has said.It is up to voters to decide whether MPs with second jobs have "the right priorities", Dominic Raab has said.
The work MPs do outside Westminster is under the spotlight, after ex-Tory MP Owen Paterson broke lobbying rules when working as a consultant.The work MPs do outside Westminster is under the spotlight, after ex-Tory MP Owen Paterson broke lobbying rules when working as a consultant.
Boris Johnson has faced criticism over the row, which saw No 10 try to overhaul standards rules and block Mr Paterson's suspension, before a U-turn. Now MP Geoffrey Cox is facing questions about his work for a legal firm advising the British Virgin Islands.
Now MP Geoffrey Cox is facing questions about his work for a legal firm. Labour's Anneliese Dodds has written to the prime minister, asking about the Conservative MP's second job.
Mr Cox - the former Attorney General - has earned hundreds of thousands of pounds from a second job with an international law firm. The former Attorney General has earned hundreds of thousands of pounds working with an international law firm, where he was sent to advise the BVI over an inquiry into government corruption.
Which MPs have second jobs?Which MPs have second jobs?
Paterson row shows PM can't act with total impunityPaterson row shows PM can't act with total impunity
Minister expresses regret over Paterson voteMinister expresses regret over Paterson vote
The Daily Mail revealed the role saw the Conservative MP travel to the British Virgin Islands in April, meaning he was working and voting remotely. The Daily Mail revealed the role saw him travel to the British Overseas Territory in April to work on the investigation - which was launched by the UK Foreign Office, and the then-Foreign Secretary, Mr Raab, in January.
Mr Cox has declared the number of hours and the amount he has been paid to Parliament, meaning he did not break any rules. Sir Geoffrey was there for a number of weeks, meaning he was carrying out his work as an MP - including voting - from the Caribbean.
But Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds has written to the prime minister, demanding he decides if the former minister is a "Caribbean-based barrister or a Conservative MP", calling it a "question of leadership" for Mr Johnson. He has declared the number of hours and the amount he has been paid to Parliament, meaning he did not break any rules.
Asked about Mr Cox's jobs, Mr Raab - who is both deputy prime minister and justice secretary - said it was "perfectly reasonable" to ask questions about whether that amount of work is acceptable on top of being an MP. Sir Geoffrey has not commented on the reports, but broadcasters at his constituency home have been told he was abroad.
But added: "Ultimately, it is for voters of any MP, myself included, to decide whether the people representing them have got the right priorities. Now Labour Party chair Ms Dodds has demanded the prime minister decides if the former minister is a "Caribbean-based barrister or a Conservative MP", calling it a "question of leadership" for Mr Johnson.
'Legitimate'
Asked about Sir Geoffrey's jobs, Mr Raab - who is now both deputy prime minister and justice secretary - said it was "perfectly reasonable" to ask questions about whether that amount of work is acceptable on top of being an MP.
But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Ultimately, it is for voters of any MP, myself included, to decide whether the people representing them have got the right priorities.
"I don't think it's for me to start making or prejudicing or second guessing the judgements that they make.""I don't think it's for me to start making or prejudicing or second guessing the judgements that they make."
However, the Liberal Democrats said the public would be "gobsmacked" by the reports into Mr Cox, with one of its MPs, Wendy Chamberlain, calling it "frankly astonishing" that Mr Raab could defend his Tory colleague. When asked about his colleague on Times Radio, Mr Raab also said it was "legitimate" for the British Virgin Islands to hire Sir Geoffrey, "as long as it's properly declared".
He added: "And of course, it's quite important that Parliament which is responsible residually for some areas of our relationship with the Overseas Territories has got some knowledge of what's going on in those territories."
But, the Liberal Democrats said the public would be "gobsmacked" by the reports into Mr Cox, with one of its MPs, Wendy Chamberlain, calling it "frankly astonishing" that Mr Raab could defend his Tory colleague.
On Monday, the Commons held an emergency debate on standards, with Minister Stephen Barclay expressing his "regret" over the "mistake" the government made with the vote on Owen Paterson's conduct.
Boris Johnson has faced criticism over the row, which saw No 10 try to overhaul standards rules and block Mr Paterson's suspension, before a U-turn.