El Barbudo wrote:
I don't have a problem with them earning money from other sources, providing it's open and above board.
If an MP wants to write a book or moonlight on the tills at Asda, that's not an issue for me.
Other employment can mean a more rounded, experienced and grounded MP.
Where the problem can lie is in what the other employment entails.
As mentioned, they shouldn't really have time for another job and MP's are currently supposed to declare other sources of income or benefit in kind. Unfortunately it's often difficult to find out the true source of the money and whether its a conflict of interest. As shown by the Peers in current trouble, you simply get a mate to put the questions up for you. Plus our media and journalists are so useless they can never be bothered to actually investigate these people.
So, in my opinion, ban all other forms of income and benefit in kind then, other than having secret accounts etc, it eliminates the option for MP's and Lords to receive money from groups/lobbyists etc and so have no incentive to particularly screw the public.
I'd agree an MP with a previous job is generally more desirable than not, but then our dear leader had a previous employment and he still has no idea about how most people live their lives. I also can't think of many jobs that could be done alongside being an MP that would particularly make a person more experienced or grounded. They can do voluntary work if they like.
If they want to write a book etc then they can wait until they've left Parliament to publish it.
Any investments can be put into a blind trust as well, to avoid any conflict of interest there.
