The prime minister has defended MPs holding second jobs as they bring ‘experience’, but said that they must ‘of course’ face sanctions if they do not follow the rules regarding them.
In a press conference this evening, Boris Johnson said that MPs found to have broken conduct rules ‘should be punished’.
But he declined a chance to apologise for asking his MPs to vote in favour of changing the rules on policing MP’s conduct, which would block the suspension of former minister Owen Paterson.
After a backlash, the government then U-turned on the plan to overhaul the Commons Standards Committee.
Speaking during a press briefing at the UN Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, he said: ‘On the issue of MPs and second jobs and all that, I just want to say that the most important thing is that those who break the rules must be investigated and should be punished.’
It comes amid scrutiny of Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Cox, who could face a formal investigation after he was accused of using his taxpayer-funded Commons office to carry out his lucrative employment representing the British Virgin Islands.
Mr Johnson said: ‘On the issue of MPs and second jobs and all that: I just want to say the most important thing is those who break the rules must be investigated and should be punished.
‘And on second jobs I would say that for hundreds of years, MPs have gone to Parliament and also done work as doctors or lawyers or soldiers or firefighters or writers or all sorts of other trades and callings.’
He added: ‘On the whole, the world and the UK population has understood that has actually strengthened our democracy because people basically feel that parliamentarians do need to have some experience of the world.
‘But, if that system is going to continue today, then it is crucial that MPs follow the rules. And the rules say two crucial things: You must put your job as an MP first and you must devote yourself primarily and above all to your constituents and the people who send you to Westminster, to Parliament.
‘And they also say that you should not use your position as an MP to lobby or otherwise intervene on behalf of any outside commercial interests. It’s not just that you have to register those interests, you can’t lobby or make representations while an MP on behalf of those interests.
‘And those are the rules and they must be enforced and those who don’t obey them should of course face sanctions.’
Regarding the U-turn on the standards committee, he said: ‘What we were trying to do and I think what MPs across the Commons are still interested in is seeing whether a cross-party agreement can be reached on our reform of the process and I know that the parliamentary standards committee is looking at whether they can reform as well.
‘Chris Brown’s committee is also I think looking at the possibility of reform. And those two things should obviously be kept completely separate.’
Cabinet minister Sajid Javid admitted he felt ‘regret’ for supporting last week’s motion to change the system because it conflated Mr Paterson’s individual case with the Government’s push for appeal reforms.
Mr Paterson quit following the scandal and a by-election to elect his successor has been confirmed for December 16.
Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner has accused the Prime Minister of failing to get his ‘house in order’ following the latest allegations against former attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox.
Speaking to broadcasters, she said: ‘I wrote to the independent commissioner today because once again we find Conservative MPs breaking the rules to make hundreds of thousands of pounds for themselves and see being an MP as a leg up to making sure they can make their own personal gain.
‘This is not acceptable. We’re here to represent our constituents, not represent ourselves, and it stinks of sleaze and corruption.
‘Boris Johnson can’t get his house in order. This is very clear to me and very frustrating.
‘I’ve written to the commissioner about Boris Johnson and you know what they say – a fish rots from the head up, so you can see this is what is happening at the moment with the Conservatives.
‘They really are not representing the British people, they are representing themselves and making a huge amount of money on the back of it.’
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