So, Nicola, what is the policy on second jobs?
Calls for ruling on Nationalist MPs
NICOLA sturgeon is facing calls for her to make a ruling on second jobs for Nationalist MPs, following a string of damaging revelations.
the First Minister has been asked to clarify her party’s Westminster rule that members should make a ‘full-time commitment’ to the job.
It follows the scottish Daily Mail’s report that SNP health spokesman Dr Philippa Whitford is moonlighting as a locum consultant at her local hospital in ayrshire.
almost a quarter of Nationalist MPs have second incomes, an investigation has revealed, despite their colleague Pete Wishart stating in the House of Commons before the general election that ‘no SNP Member has a second job, a directorship or a place on a company’.
‘A quarter have other interests’
Now Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has written to the SNP leader demanding she clarify the party’s rules.
the Mid scotland and Fife MSP said yesterday: ‘before last May’s election, the SNP made it pretty clear its MPs would focus on Westminster and Westminster alone. but now we learn at least a quarter of its MPs in the UK Parliament have other professional interests.
‘If the SNP has dropped its resolution, it should say as much. otherwise, there is a clear contradiction in what the party said before the election, and what is happening in practice now. If the SNP has had a dramatic change in policy, voters deserve to know.’
all Nationalist MPs have to provide an undertaking in writing to fully commit to the job before they are admitted to the SNP Parliamentary group.
the exact wording of the standing order, signed off at the SNP’s spring conference, is that MPs must: ‘treat the position as a full-time commitment with an attendance and work rate commensurate with that status.’
but the Register of Members’ Interests shows several have outside commitments, including former banker Ian blackford, MP for Ross, skye and lochaber, who is paid the equivalent of £777 an hour for his second job with Golden Charter trust, which administers money for a funeral plan firm being investigated for cold-calling.
Former First Minister alex salmond earns £108,000 for newspa- per articles and interviews, while among others MP Richard arkless was a director of online retailer LED Warehouse until last autumn.
Dr lisa Cameron continues to do paid work as a psychologist, while other politicians within the party draw an i ncome f rom extensive property holdings.
scottish lib Dem leader Willie Rennie has accused the party, which has 54 MPs at Westminster, of having ‘one rule for the SNP and another for everyone else’. His claim follows the statement l ast February by Pete Wishart, the Nationalist MP for Perth and North Perthshire, that constituents would find it ‘difficult to accept’ that MPs could combine the skilled and technical role of an MP with a second job.
Mr Fraser has asked in his letter to the First Minister if SNP MPs are fulfilling the party’s resolution to treat their occupation as a full-time occupation. He wrote: ‘ Newspaper reports in recent weeks have shown that there a number of SNP MPs who are earning considerable sums of money from interests outside of Parliament.
‘sixteen SNP MPs are currently earning an income from property ownership and one of your MPs is also being paid as a consultant surgeon in the NHs.
‘Whilst I have no problem with politicians having other interests as long as it does not interfere with their ability to represent their constituents, and in fact I actually believe it can be beneficial to the role of parliamentarian, this does appear to be a U-turn in SNP policy. Can you confirm whether this resolution has been dropped, and if so why?’
a spokesman for the SNP said: ‘all SNP MPs treat their position as a full-time commitment and their attendance and work rate reflects this – the majority of SNP MPs have already spoken in more debates or tabled more questions than most others.’
alexandra Runswick, of the Unlock Democracy campaign, said: ‘Politicians should remember they are in Parliament to represent their constituents, not to pursue lucrative second jobs.’