MPs back Labour plan to tighten outside job rules

MPs have backed a plan from the new Labour government to tighten rules on what they can do in an outside job.

They approved changes to get rid of exemptions allowing them to advise employers on "public policy" and how Parliament works in general.

Commons leader Lucy Powell said the move would get rid of a potential "loophole" and ensure MPs focused on their constituents.

She said the rule tweak would help “turn the page" on standards after a series of controversies in the last parliament.

MPs have also backed plans for a new 14-member "modernisation committee" to recommend broader changes to how the Commons works.

MPs are already banned from advocating an employer's interests in Parliament, or trying to influence ministers in a paid role.

They are also explicitly banned from working as a parliamentary strategist or consultant, following a rule change in the wake of the lobbying scandal involving former Conservative MP Owen Paterson.

But the current rulebook permits them to give “advice on public policy and current affairs” as well as “advice in general terms about how Parliament works” while in an outside job.

These exemptions will now be removed from late October, with Ms Powell arguing they could "potentially act as loopholes” to allow MPs to use their position for "personal gain".

MPs will not face a general ban on outside employment, however, and will still be able to be paid for media appearances, as well as for writing books and articles.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously pledged to ban MPs from taking nearly all outside jobs after Mr Paterson was found in late 2021 to have broken lobbying rules on behalf of two companies employing him.

It had been suggested such a wider ban could include all outside work apart from roles requiring continuous practice to keep professional registrations, such as working as a doctor or lawyer.

However, Labour subsequently moved away from that pledge, and it did not appear in the party's manifesto ahead of the election earlier this month.

The previous Conservative government backed a plan to limit the time MPs devote to second jobs or the money they could earn, but later abandoned the idea after concluding it was impractical.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Powell said that as well as helping to prevent conflicts of interest, the latest rule change would help prevent “conflicts of attention” and ensure MPs stayed focused on serving their constituents.

Describing it as a "first step," she promised that the new committee, which will be cross-party, would "go further” on changes to MPs' practices.

The panel will have a broad remit to examine working practices as well as standards, and emulates a similar committee set up by Tony Blair's Labour government in the wake of its 1997 election win.

Ms Powell will chair the committee and promised to consult all parties when drawing up proposals, but smaller parties complained they would not be represented after Labour's huge election win.

The SNP's Kirsty Blackman said only Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems would get seats, while Reform UK's Lee Anderson said it was “unfair” his party would also not have a representative.

The rule changes were backed without the need to record MPs' individual votes, with no MP shouting that they objected during an oral vote.