MSPs? That’ll be the Moonlighting Scots Politicians

One in three earn money outside Holyrood, on top of their £58,000 taxpayer-funded salaries

MORE than one in three MSPs is raking in extra income from roles outside politics – over and above their £58,000 Holyrood salary.

Dozens of MSPs are ‘moonlighting’ with private firms, working in the public sector, running their own businesses or bringing in income from land and property.

They manage vast estates, work as advocates, run small businesses, work in the public sector as nurses or councillors – and one is even a professional football linesman.

Their numbers have soared following May’s election, with many newly elected MSPs refusing to give up lucrative careers.

This will reignite the row over whether there should be a ban on second jobs for elected politicians.

Research by The Scottish Mail on Sunday found 45 of the 129 MSPs earn money outside politics.

The Tories have more MSPs – 20 out of 31 (65 per cent) – with second incomes than any other party.

Fourteen of the SNP’s 63 MSPs earn money from outside of politics – despite party leaders publicly criticising the practice at Westminster.

Tory energy spokesman Alexander Burnett earns more than any other MSP. His three other paid jobs, including owning the £10 million AJA Burnett Estate in Aberdeenshire, are expected to bring in £137,620 this year.

Health and sport spokesman Donald Cameron expects to earn up to £47,500 a year as a self-employed advocate and a director of two investment trusts.

Rural economy spokesman Peter Chapman is a director of a poultry rearing company, a livestock auction mart and his own farming part- nership – which earns him an extra £38,000 a year, plus any dividends.

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘All our MSPs are focused on representing their constituents and providing the strong opposition to the SNP Government Scotland needs.

‘These figures reflect the massive change in personnel we have experienced in the wake of May’s elections. The party was determined to bring in new people from outside politics with real-life experience into the Scottish parliament.

‘They include serving councillors, many of whom are no longer taking a salary, who will give up that role at next year’s local elections.’

Fourteen of the SNP’s 63 MSPs (22 per cent) earn money outside politics. They include Clydebank and Milngavie MSP Gil Paterson, who part-owns a family car business and Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell, who is a Glasgow University professor.

An SNP spokesman said: ‘All appointments are declared in MSPs’ registers of interests.’

Scottish Labour made a manifesto commitment to ‘ban second jobs for MSPs’. While nine of its 23 MSPs (39 per cent) have outside earnings, the party said all are in the process of ending such paid employment.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: ‘Being an MSP is a privilege and it should be your only job. That is why Labour said we would ban second jobs and consultancies for MSPs, which we have done. Our MSPs who are councillors will stand down at the next council election.’

One Green and one Lib Dem MSP declare second incomes.

TaxpayerScotland director Eben Wilson said: ‘We are not unhappy about MSPs having real-world jobs. However, total transparency about out-of-parliament work is essential and their parliamentary duties must come first.’

‘They are all focused on their constituents’