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Labour calls on Boris Johnson to investigate Geoffrey Cox's second job | Labour calls on Boris Johnson to investigate Geoffrey Cox's second job |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Geoffrey Cox represents the seat of Torridge and West Devon as an MP | Geoffrey Cox represents the seat of Torridge and West Devon as an MP |
Labour has called on the PM to launch an investigation into one of his Tory MPs, who earned almost £900,000 through jobs outside Parliament. | Labour has called on the PM to launch an investigation into one of his Tory MPs, who earned almost £900,000 through jobs outside Parliament. |
Sir Geoffrey Cox racked up the wage bill as a lawyer, including travelling to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to advise on a corruption inquiry. | Sir Geoffrey Cox racked up the wage bill as a lawyer, including travelling to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to advise on a corruption inquiry. |
Labour chair Anneliese Dodds said he "took advantage" of Covid restrictions to work remotely from the Caribbean. | Labour chair Anneliese Dodds said he "took advantage" of Covid restrictions to work remotely from the Caribbean. |
No 10 said an MP's primary job "must be to serve their constituents". | No 10 said an MP's primary job "must be to serve their constituents". |
Politicians are allowed to have second jobs outside Westminster, but the work they do has come under the spotlight since ex-Tory MP Owen Paterson broke lobbying rules when working as a consultant. | Politicians are allowed to have second jobs outside Westminster, but the work they do has come under the spotlight since ex-Tory MP Owen Paterson broke lobbying rules when working as a consultant. |
Which MPs have second jobs? | Which MPs have second jobs? |
Paterson row shows PM can't act with total impunity | Paterson row shows PM can't act with total impunity |
Minister expresses regret over Paterson vote | Minister expresses regret over Paterson vote |
Now Sir Geoffrey is facing questions after declaring on the Register of Members Interests - where MPs publish details of any additional work - he has made nearly £900,000 over the course of the year working as a lawyer. | Now Sir Geoffrey is facing questions after declaring on the Register of Members Interests - where MPs publish details of any additional work - he has made nearly £900,000 over the course of the year working as a lawyer. |
The Daily Mail revealed one of his contracts saw him travel to the British Virgin Islands in April to work on a corruption investigation into the government of the Overseas Territory, which was launched by the UK Foreign Office in January. | The Daily Mail revealed one of his contracts saw him travel to the British Virgin Islands in April to work on a corruption investigation into the government of the Overseas Territory, which was launched by the UK Foreign Office in January. |
The former Attorney General, who represents Torridge and West Devon in Parliament, was there for a number of weeks, meaning he was carrying out his work as an MP - including voting - from the Caribbean. | The former Attorney General, who represents Torridge and West Devon in Parliament, was there for a number of weeks, meaning he was carrying out his work as an MP - including voting - from the Caribbean. |
There's no suggestion he has broken any rules. | There's no suggestion he has broken any rules. |
But Labour's shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Louise Haigh, told BBC News it was "absolutely staggering" the Tory MP was carrying out all this extra work at a time when "the vast majority of MPs were working harder than we've ever worked - helping serve our constituents through the toughest times of their lives". | But Labour's shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Louise Haigh, told BBC News it was "absolutely staggering" the Tory MP was carrying out all this extra work at a time when "the vast majority of MPs were working harder than we've ever worked - helping serve our constituents through the toughest times of their lives". |
'Sense of duty' | 'Sense of duty' |
In a letter to the PM, Ms Dodds wrote: "It seems Sir Geoffrey took advantage of Covid-related parliamentary rules and flew out to the BVI to vote by proxy from the other side of the Atlantic. | In a letter to the PM, Ms Dodds wrote: "It seems Sir Geoffrey took advantage of Covid-related parliamentary rules and flew out to the BVI to vote by proxy from the other side of the Atlantic. |
"The irony is not lost on me that he arrived in the Caribbean on the day that those MPs who actually feel a sense of duty to their constituents were debating global anti-corruption standards. | "The irony is not lost on me that he arrived in the Caribbean on the day that those MPs who actually feel a sense of duty to their constituents were debating global anti-corruption standards. |
"The people of Torridge and West Devon must be wondering if Geoffrey Cox is a Caribbean-based barrister or a Conservative MP." | "The people of Torridge and West Devon must be wondering if Geoffrey Cox is a Caribbean-based barrister or a Conservative MP." |
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said all MPs should be "visible in their constituencies and available to help constituents with their constituency matters". | A spokesman for Mr Johnson said all MPs should be "visible in their constituencies and available to help constituents with their constituency matters". |
He added: "If they're not doing that, they're not doing their job and will rightly be judged on that by their constituents." | He added: "If they're not doing that, they're not doing their job and will rightly be judged on that by their constituents." |
Sir Geoffrey has not commented on the reports, but broadcasters at his constituency home have been told he is abroad. | Sir Geoffrey has not commented on the reports, but broadcasters at his constituency home have been told he is abroad. |
Tuesday morning's headlines will not have been warmly received in Downing Street. | Tuesday morning's headlines will not have been warmly received in Downing Street. |
What started as a story over one MP - Owen Paterson - morphed into one about the government's approach to standards. | What started as a story over one MP - Owen Paterson - morphed into one about the government's approach to standards. |
Now, the balance of MPs work in Parliament is being questioned. | Now, the balance of MPs work in Parliament is being questioned. |
There is no suggestion that Geoffrey Cox has broken any rules. Indeed, many MPs have second jobs. | There is no suggestion that Geoffrey Cox has broken any rules. Indeed, many MPs have second jobs. |
But the extent to which he has focussed on his legal work - and the fact he appears to have spent a number of weeks in the Caribbean - leaves question marks over whether he has got the balance right. | But the extent to which he has focussed on his legal work - and the fact he appears to have spent a number of weeks in the Caribbean - leaves question marks over whether he has got the balance right. |
From the start of 2021 until 7 September, all of Sir Geoffrey's votes in Parliament were carried out by a proxy - although many MPs were voting by proxy during this period because of the pandemic. | From the start of 2021 until 7 September, all of Sir Geoffrey's votes in Parliament were carried out by a proxy - although many MPs were voting by proxy during this period because of the pandemic. |
He spoke in a debate in the House on 13 September, but since then he has missed over 30 divisions - where MPs vote - and only voted in one. | He spoke in a debate in the House on 13 September, but since then he has missed over 30 divisions - where MPs vote - and only voted in one. |
When it comes to remuneration, according to the Register of Members' Interests - where MPs have to declare other earnings outside Parliament - Sir Geoffrey was paid £156,916.08 before VAT for 140 hours work over the period he is understood to have been in the British Virgin Islands for Withers LLP. | When it comes to remuneration, according to the Register of Members' Interests - where MPs have to declare other earnings outside Parliament - Sir Geoffrey was paid £156,916.08 before VAT for 140 hours work over the period he is understood to have been in the British Virgin Islands for Withers LLP. |
He also earned over £280,000 with the same firm for almost 300 hours of work between January and July this year. | He also earned over £280,000 with the same firm for almost 300 hours of work between January and July this year. |
Sir Geoffrey also declared on the register that from 1 November he will receive £400,000 plus VAT annually from Withers LLP for up to 41 hours of work a month. | Sir Geoffrey also declared on the register that from 1 November he will receive £400,000 plus VAT annually from Withers LLP for up to 41 hours of work a month. |
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Anneliese Dodds says the "corruption scandal" in the Tory Party is "getting deeper". | |
In a statement, the law firm confirmed the MP had worked for them as a consultant global counsel since September 2020, adding: "As a leading QC, we very much value Sir Geoffrey's huge depth of expertise and experience in domestic and international legal disputes." | In a statement, the law firm confirmed the MP had worked for them as a consultant global counsel since September 2020, adding: "As a leading QC, we very much value Sir Geoffrey's huge depth of expertise and experience in domestic and international legal disputes." |
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab defended his fellow Tory, telling Times Radio, it was "legitimate" for the British Virgin Islands to hire Sir Geoffrey, "as long as it's properly declared". | Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab defended his fellow Tory, telling Times Radio, it was "legitimate" for the British Virgin Islands to hire Sir Geoffrey, "as long as it's properly declared". |
But he also said it was up to voters to judge if MPs had the "right priorities" alongside any additional work they did. | But he also said it was up to voters to judge if MPs had the "right priorities" alongside any additional work they did. |
However, the Liberal Democrats said the public would be "gobsmacked" by the reports into Sir Geoffrey. | However, the Liberal Democrats said the public would be "gobsmacked" by the reports into Sir Geoffrey. |
And one of its MPs, Wendy Chamberlain, calling it "frankly astonishing" that Mr Raab could defend his Tory colleague. | And one of its MPs, Wendy Chamberlain, calling it "frankly astonishing" that Mr Raab could defend his Tory colleague. |
The deputy chair of Sir Geoffrey's local Conservative Association, Debbie Flint, told the BBC the group "fully supports our MP". | The deputy chair of Sir Geoffrey's local Conservative Association, Debbie Flint, told the BBC the group "fully supports our MP". |
'Cox is excellent with constituents' | 'Cox is excellent with constituents' |
Dominic Raab says it is up voters to decide if they want to stick with an MP working a second job. | Dominic Raab says it is up voters to decide if they want to stick with an MP working a second job. |
And Geoffrey Cox's local party seem confident that decision would fall in his favour. | And Geoffrey Cox's local party seem confident that decision would fall in his favour. |
A county councillor in his Devon constituency, Debo Sellis, said the work he did locally was "phenomenal" and he was "passionate about the community". | A county councillor in his Devon constituency, Debo Sellis, said the work he did locally was "phenomenal" and he was "passionate about the community". |
Ward councillor Peter Crozier also had no doubt he would win any upcoming vote, saying the MP was "excellent with his constituents". | Ward councillor Peter Crozier also had no doubt he would win any upcoming vote, saying the MP was "excellent with his constituents". |
Mr Crozier added: "He is visible for those in need of help and is probably one of the best MPs with his constituents, and that's probably why he increases his majority every time." | Mr Crozier added: "He is visible for those in need of help and is probably one of the best MPs with his constituents, and that's probably why he increases his majority every time." |
But a local councillor outside of the Tory Party, independent Steve Hipsey, had his own issues with Sir Geoffrey over the amount of time he spent in Westminster, rather than locally. | But a local councillor outside of the Tory Party, independent Steve Hipsey, had his own issues with Sir Geoffrey over the amount of time he spent in Westminster, rather than locally. |
"If I have any beef with him at all it is about the time he spends in Parliament representing his constituents," he told PA. | "If I have any beef with him at all it is about the time he spends in Parliament representing his constituents," he told PA. |
"As a local councillor I am very concerned that we seem to be getting so little value for money out of him in Whitehall." | "As a local councillor I am very concerned that we seem to be getting so little value for money out of him in Whitehall." |
The prime minister has come under fire from all sides after trying to overhaul standards rules and block the suspension of his Mr Paterson, only to perform a U-turn less than 24 hours later. | |
Mr Johnson then faced further criticism for refusing to apologise for the scandal and failing to turn up to an emergency debate on the issue in the Commons on Monday. | Mr Johnson then faced further criticism for refusing to apologise for the scandal and failing to turn up to an emergency debate on the issue in the Commons on Monday. |
The leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, accused the PM of "running scared". | The leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, accused the PM of "running scared". |
The three-hour emergency debate on standards saw Cabinet Office Minister Stephen Barclay expressing his "regret" over the "mistake" the government made with the vote on Mr Paterson's conduct. | The three-hour emergency debate on standards saw Cabinet Office Minister Stephen Barclay expressing his "regret" over the "mistake" the government made with the vote on Mr Paterson's conduct. |
The government will now bring forward a motion next week, to unpick the proposal which would have set up a committee to review standards procedures. | The government will now bring forward a motion next week, to unpick the proposal which would have set up a committee to review standards procedures. |
Downing Street said it would also allow for the Commons to approve the standards report into Mr Paterson's conduct, while also recognising he is no longer an MP. | Downing Street said it would also allow for the Commons to approve the standards report into Mr Paterson's conduct, while also recognising he is no longer an MP. |