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| What MPs do as second jobs | What MPs do as second jobs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Debate about MPs' second jobs dominated Prime Minister's Questions, after an undercover investigation involving Jack Straw, Sir Malcolm Rifkind and a bogus Chinese company. | Debate about MPs' second jobs dominated Prime Minister's Questions, after an undercover investigation involving Jack Straw, Sir Malcolm Rifkind and a bogus Chinese company. |
| Ed Miliband wants a ban on paid directorships and consultancies, while David Cameron said having people with outside interests made for a "stronger Parliament". | Ed Miliband wants a ban on paid directorships and consultancies, while David Cameron said having people with outside interests made for a "stronger Parliament". |
| MPs are due to debate the subject in the House of Commons, where the Liberal Democrats are likely to join the Conservatives in opposing Labour. | MPs are due to debate the subject in the House of Commons, where the Liberal Democrats are likely to join the Conservatives in opposing Labour. |
| The numbers | The numbers |
| More than 100 MPs declare additional employment in the Register of Members' Interests, without including things such as TV appearances, book royalties and giving speeches. Of the 108 MPs counted using this methodology, 17 are Labour and 80 are Conservatives, according to BBC Analysis and Research. | |
| Many hold directorships, of the type Labour is trying to ban. But there are plenty of other occupations, which would not be affected by its plans. | Many hold directorships, of the type Labour is trying to ban. But there are plenty of other occupations, which would not be affected by its plans. |
| Lawyers | Lawyers |
| A number of MPs work as solicitors or barristers alongside their day jobs. Conservative MP Sir Edward Garnier, who earned £275,584 last year working as a QC, said being an experienced barrister made him a better MP and that his constituents were able to vote him out if they objected to it. "There will always be barristers who will bring their knowledge to the House of Commons, and if Parliament doesn't want them, Parliament won't have them," he added. | A number of MPs work as solicitors or barristers alongside their day jobs. Conservative MP Sir Edward Garnier, who earned £275,584 last year working as a QC, said being an experienced barrister made him a better MP and that his constituents were able to vote him out if they objected to it. "There will always be barristers who will bring their knowledge to the House of Commons, and if Parliament doesn't want them, Parliament won't have them," he added. |
| A GP | A GP |
| Phillip Lee remains a practising GP alongside his work as the Conservative MP for Bracknell, Berkshire. In a Commons debate in 2013, he said the weekly work made him a better MP. He has previously called for MPs' pay to be increased, saying he took a £50,000 pay cut when he joined Parliament. | Phillip Lee remains a practising GP alongside his work as the Conservative MP for Bracknell, Berkshire. In a Commons debate in 2013, he said the weekly work made him a better MP. He has previously called for MPs' pay to be increased, saying he took a £50,000 pay cut when he joined Parliament. |
| Farmers | Farmers |
| Conservative MPs Glyn Davies and Robert Goodwill are listed as farmers. Mr Goodwill is also the managing director of a company offering environmentally friendly burials in the North Yorkshire countryside. | Conservative MPs Glyn Davies and Robert Goodwill are listed as farmers. Mr Goodwill is also the managing director of a company offering environmentally friendly burials in the North Yorkshire countryside. |
| A dentist | A dentist |
| Sir Paul Beresford, Conservative MP for Mole Valley works as a dental surgeon for Beresford Dental Practice. In December, he told Get Surrey: "When I became the MP for Mole Valley, they wanted people who had more strings to their bow, rather than people who knew nothing about life. | Sir Paul Beresford, Conservative MP for Mole Valley works as a dental surgeon for Beresford Dental Practice. In December, he told Get Surrey: "When I became the MP for Mole Valley, they wanted people who had more strings to their bow, rather than people who knew nothing about life. |
| "If I had gone for selection without another job, then I would not have been successful." | "If I had gone for selection without another job, then I would not have been successful." |
| A lecturer | A lecturer |
| David Cameron was quick to point out the shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, during Prime Minister's Questions. The Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central declares a salary as a lecturer in modern British history at Queen Mary, University of London. | David Cameron was quick to point out the shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, during Prime Minister's Questions. The Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central declares a salary as a lecturer in modern British history at Queen Mary, University of London. |
| Directorships and consultancies | Directorships and consultancies |
| Many of the MPs with second jobs hold these types of role, which Labour would like to ban. | Many of the MPs with second jobs hold these types of role, which Labour would like to ban. |
| Speaking in PMQs, Mr Miliband said his plan to ban MPs from being paid by businesses to work as directors or consultants while serving at Westminster would be a "big test" for the government. | Speaking in PMQs, Mr Miliband said his plan to ban MPs from being paid by businesses to work as directors or consultants while serving at Westminster would be a "big test" for the government. |
| But Mr Cameron has said Parliament is "enriched" by MPs with second jobs, and does not favour a complete ban, describing this as a "fundamental disagreement" with Mr Miliband. | But Mr Cameron has said Parliament is "enriched" by MPs with second jobs, and does not favour a complete ban, describing this as a "fundamental disagreement" with Mr Miliband. |
| Union debate | Union debate |
| During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said Labour's proposal would still allow an MP to be a "paid trade union official". | During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said Labour's proposal would still allow an MP to be a "paid trade union official". |
| The Labour leader offered to add this definition to paid consultant and director in the Labour motion if he would agree. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he was unaware of any Labour MPs who are paid to be union officials, although many MPs receive union funding for their private offices. | The Labour leader offered to add this definition to paid consultant and director in the Labour motion if he would agree. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he was unaware of any Labour MPs who are paid to be union officials, although many MPs receive union funding for their private offices. |
| Full-time job? | Full-time job? |
| Not all politicians agree on whether all of an MP's time should be taken up by work at Westminster and in their constituency. Speaking on Monday night, Labour MP John Mann told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme he did not see how there could be time for other employment. | Not all politicians agree on whether all of an MP's time should be taken up by work at Westminster and in their constituency. Speaking on Monday night, Labour MP John Mann told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme he did not see how there could be time for other employment. |
| "My day began at 06:00, without a break I worked through to 22:00," he said. | "My day began at 06:00, without a break I worked through to 22:00," he said. |
| "That is a standard Monday. In reality, when Parliament is sitting, most MPs have two jobs - a full-time job in their constituency and a full-time job at Westminster." | "That is a standard Monday. In reality, when Parliament is sitting, most MPs have two jobs - a full-time job in their constituency and a full-time job at Westminster." |
| But in an interview on BBC Newsnight, former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine said he believed an MP's salary was "not designed to be the total income of all MPs". | But in an interview on BBC Newsnight, former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine said he believed an MP's salary was "not designed to be the total income of all MPs". |
| He said: "Is an MP expected to be a full-time employee of his or her constituency? | He said: "Is an MP expected to be a full-time employee of his or her constituency? |
| "My own view is that it is not a full-time job, there's a huge commitment in it and you work all hours and all days but there is plenty of time in which you can do do other things providing it's within the rules that are laid down." | "My own view is that it is not a full-time job, there's a huge commitment in it and you work all hours and all days but there is plenty of time in which you can do do other things providing it's within the rules that are laid down." |
| Public opinion | Public opinion |
| According to a recent YouGov poll, people are "overwhelmingly against" MPs having any second jobs. Only 26% agreed with the statement that "some MPs continuing to do second jobs like medicine, law or running a business keeps them in touch with ordinary people, and is better than having a House of Commons made up of just full-time politicians". | According to a recent YouGov poll, people are "overwhelmingly against" MPs having any second jobs. Only 26% agreed with the statement that "some MPs continuing to do second jobs like medicine, law or running a business keeps them in touch with ordinary people, and is better than having a House of Commons made up of just full-time politicians". |