Quandary for Sir Keir over MPs’earnings

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer found himself on tricky ground this week when asked about shadow foreign secretary David Lammy earning more than £240,000 since 2019 from speaking engagements and a radio show, in addition to his annual £ 84,000 salary as an MP.

‘I think David does a lot of media work, and I think media work and writing books is all part of the political process,’ said Starmer.

‘but there’s a discussion to be had,’ Starmer added. ‘I was urging the whole House of Commons to agree new rules because I do think we should get rid of second jobs, with some exceptions.’

However Sir Keir, a former director of public prosecutions, is in no position to criticise MPs’ outside earnings. He did legal work for blue-chip firms to supplement his income before becoming party leader, earning £115,000 the five years up to april 2020.

Yes, it’s high time he clamped down on the likes of Lammy, but he certainly shouldn’t interfere with the doctors and nurses, on both sides of the Commons, who still put in shifts at hospitals.