United Kingdom parliamentary second jobs controversy

{{Short description|2021 controversy in British politics}}

{{Update|reason=Additional information from 2023: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/06/mps-paid-10m-for-second-jobs-and-freelance-work-over-past-year|date=August 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

The United Kingdom parliamentary second jobs controversy of 2021 began with Owen Paterson and his lobbying and breach of Commons advocacy rules, which led to his resignation on 5 November. It was in turn followed by extensive press coverage and debate about the second jobs of other MPs, particularly Geoffrey Cox. Cox, a former Attorney General, registered a total income of £970,000 in 2020, for 705 hours of legal services.{{cite news|last1=Wood|first1=Poppy|date=10 November 2021|title=Which MPs have second jobs? The 11 politicians that earn more than their regular salaries outside Parliament|work=i|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/mps-second-jobs-which-politicians-how-much-earn-outside-parliament-salaries-1291608|access-date=10 November 2021}} An opinion piece in The Telegraph describes how Cox has always disclosed his earnings and that his constituents re-elect him with "ever increasing majorities every time his name appears on the ballot paper".{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Tom|date=9 November 2021|title=Banning second jobs for MPs would be senseless|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/09/banning-second-jobs-mps-would-senseless/|website=The Telegraph}} According to The Guardian, the register of MPs' interests shows that more than 90 Conservative MPs undertake paid work in addition to their job in parliament, along with three Labour MPs.{{cite web|last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |title=At least a quarter of Tory MPs have second jobs, earning over £4m a year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/09/at-least-a-quarter-of-tory-mps-have-second-jobs-earning-5m-a-year |access-date=10 November 2021 |website=The Guardian |date=9 November 2021}} According to the BBC, "more than 200 MPs received earnings in the last year on top of their £81,932 annual salary. The extra earnings range from £50 a year to almost £1m."{{cite web |last1=Kraemer |first1=Daniel |title=Which MPs have second jobs and how much do they earn? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-59206904 |access-date=10 November 2021 |website=BBC News |date=10 November 2021}}