Yorkshire MPs defend their right to keep jobs ‘out in the real world’

Simon Reevell, the Dewsbury MP who also works as a practising barrister, said the country was “on its knees” after a decade of governance by “professional politicians” and that people are better served by those who understand what is happening beyond the Westminster bubble.

“It’s about bringing that knowledge to Parliament,” the Conservative backbencher said. “I made it clear before I was elected that I would continue to practise as a barrister, and I really think it’s a good think to see working doctors, farmers, lawyers and whoever else in Parliament.

“The alternative is that three years into a Parliament, when a debate is going on, the very best you are going to get are people saying ‘this is what it was like three years ago’. As long as it doesn’t impact on your work as an MP, then I don’t see an issue with it.”

Meg Munn, the Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley, said a simple cap on MPs’ outside earnings would be too blunt an instrument due to the myriad of different types of work undertaken by politicians.

For the past three years Ms Munn has worked for Global Partners Governance, a London-based firm with a Foreign Office contract to help spread democracy across the developing world.

She frequently travels abroad to provide mentoring and support services to Parliamentarians and their staff in dangerous parts of the world. She earns around £25,000 - but says without the money she would not be able to continue in the position.

“The amount I could do would be cut in half at least if this (£10,000-a-year cap) came in,” she said. “I am very worried about it. You spend a lot of time building up relationships and it’s important, long-term work.

“Personally I think that as long as you’re transparent, it’s for the local party and the electorate to decide. A cap would be a very blunt instrument.”

John Healey, Labour’s former Housing Minister and the MP for Wentworth and Dearne, agreed. He earns £10,000-a-year as a non-executive director of Titanic Brewery, and £5,000 as a board member for Incommunities Housing Association in West Yorkshire.

“Nothing gets in the way of doing my job as an MP,” he said.

“I do think my experience makes a valuable contribution to the organisations I work with.

“But it also gives me first-hand experience of how Government policies are hurting businesses in the real world.”