MP link to probe lab
A TOP Tory MP is earning £100,000 a year from a firm caught up in a drug test probe.
Owen Paterson, former Northern Ireland Secretary, is campaigning to be re-elected in North Shropshire. On the side, he works for Randox Laboratories, based in Northern Ireland, and this month doubled his £50,000 pay packet.
I n February detectives opened an investigation into its Manchester branch, used by cops to test drugs. They say since 2015, 484 cases could have had results manipulated. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
A drug-driving charge was later dropped and hundreds of cases may have to be reviewed.
Mr Paterson revealed in the latest Register of Members’ Interests he’d be paid £8,333 a month for 16 hours’ consultancy work for the firm. That is on top of his £75,000 a year MP’s salary.
He had contacts with the firm as a minister but the Governmen Government has approved his wo work. Shadow No Northern Ireland mi minister Steve Pound said: “People are fed up with fof ormer ministe ministers filli ng their
b boots.”