Rishi Sunak said that although an independent process governed second jobs, the row wasn't a good look for the Government.
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The government must “do better than we did last week” on standards, the Chancellor has said.
Rishi Sunak acknowledged that the last week had not been good for the Government. He made the intervention as the row over MPs’ outside interests continues to boil with Conservatives’ Sir Geoffrey Cox MP and Owen Patterson under fire.
Tensions remain high as it was revealed that Sir Geoffrey has earned £6m for legal work outside Parliament since 2009. He has also been criticised his absence for voting by proxy while working on a legal case in the British Virgin Islands.
Business Minister Paul Scully admitted to Sky News that the “optics were not good” of the second jobs debate. He refused to defend Sir Geoffrey for voting by proxy, and said that it was between “him and his voters”.
Owen Patterson last week resigned as an MP after the government made a U-turn on a vote to pause his suspension. He had been found to by the Commons’ Standards Commissioner to have made “egregious” breaches of anti-lobbying rules.
Owen Paterson (centre) recently resigned over breaking lobbying rules. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
“Independent process”
Speaking to Sky News about MPs pay and having second jobs, the Chancellor said: “People will have different motivations for doing what they do, the pay is set by an independent body, that’s absolutely right.
“And with regard to second jobs, there’s an independent process that we have that’s set by Parliament that governs all of those things. And it’s absolutely right that that process is followed to the letter.
“Now look, on the broader point – and just reflecting over recent events – I think for us as a Government, it’s fair to say that we need to do better than we did last week, and we know that.”
Schism
The Chancellor’s intervention comes amid signs of schism between the Tory old guard, including MPs like Sir Geoffrey, and newly elected Conservative MPs.
Newer MPs are concerned about the public perception of the saga and how it feeds into a narrative of MPs working for their own interests. Tory backbenchers are said to be self-whipping to separate themselves from the frontbench.
Labour have attempted to brand the scandal as “Tory sleaze”.
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HeadlineChancellor: government must “do better” on standards
Short Headline"Do better" on standards, says Sunak
StandfirstRishi Sunak's comments come as it's revealed Sir Geoffrey Cox has earned £6m for legal work outside Parliament since 2009.
The government must “do better than we did last week” on standards, the Chancellor has said.
Rishi Sunak acknowledged that the last week had not been good for the Government. He made the intervention as the row over MPs’ outside interests continues to boil with Conservatives’ Sir Geoffrey Cox MP and Owen Patterson under fire.
Tensions remain high as it was revealed that Sir Geoffrey has earned £6m for legal work outside Parliament since 2009. He has also been criticised his absence for voting by proxy while working on a legal case in the British Virgin Islands.
Business Minister Paul Scully admitted to Sky News that the “optics were not good” of the second jobs debate. He refused to defend Sir Geoffrey for voting by proxy, and said that it was between “him and his voters”.
Owen Patterson last week resigned as an MP after the government made a U-turn on a vote to pause his suspension. He had been found to by the Commons’ Standards Commissioner to have made “egregious” breaches of anti-lobbying rules.
Owen Paterson (centre) recently resigned over breaking lobbying rules. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
“Independent process”
Speaking to Sky News about MPs pay and having second jobs, the Chancellor said: “People will have different motivations for doing what they do, the pay is set by an independent body, that’s absolutely right.
“And with regard to second jobs, there’s an independent process that we have that’s set by Parliament that governs all of those things. And it’s absolutely right that that process is followed to the letter.
“Now look, on the broader point – and just reflecting over recent events – I think for us as a Government, it’s fair to say that we need to do better than we did last week, and we know that.”
Schism
The Chancellor’s intervention comes amid signs of schism between the Tory old guard, including MPs like Sir Geoffrey, and newly elected Conservative MPs.
Newer MPs are concerned about the public perception of the saga and how it feeds into a narrative of MPs working for their own interests. Tory backbenchers are said to be self-whipping to separate themselves from the frontbench.
Labour have attempted to brand the scandal as “Tory sleaze”.
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