Should our MPs make money from other jobs?
Locals give their views on politicians
Figures revealed last week sow that some MPs are coining it in with other sources of income.
Top of the list was the former Chancellor, George Osborne, who has earned £627,891 from speaking engagements.
Other MPs have also been able to earn extra cash through book deals or working with companies, prompting critics to declare that they should be banned from having extra sources of money.
We went out to Burnside to ask locals for their views on the subject.
Jean Marley said: “I think it would depend on what the other job is. If it’s taking advantage of being an MP to make more money then I think that would be wrong. They should be very careful
Having a second job is something that can create a conflict of interest Joe Gorman
about all of these things.”
James Horn said: “I think it’s fair enough. They’re not going to be MPs all their lives so there’s no reason they shouldn’t have something else to fall back on if they get voted out.”
Stephanie Clark said: “I think they need to be focusing on being an MP, not a side job. I’d feel like they’re not doing their main job enough, which is supposed to be focusing on public issues.”
Joe Gorman said: “I think they should be exclusively working in parliament. Having a second job is something that can create a conflict of interest. To represent your constituency is something that should be a full-time occupation and I don’t see how they could have the free time for another pursuit.”