MPs' second jobs set to come under greater scrutiny

Three separate committees are reported to be looking into a possible crackdown on MPs working second jobs, following former chancellor George Osborne's appointment as the editor of the London Evening Standard.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life stressed that the ex-chancellor is not the sole focus of its review, with more than 100 MPs currently doing other work outside of representing their constituents, the BBC reports.

The Standards Committee, set up in 1995 following corruption scandals, does not have license to block individual MPs from taking extra jobs – instead, it is considering changing its code of conduct on outside interests.

Meanwhile, the Commons standards committee may attempt to stop MPs working while the Commons is sitting, which would hinder their ability to take on time-intensive second jobs.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOB) is also looking into whether Osborne's new role could be viewed as a conflict of interest given the insider knowledge and contacts he gained at the Treasury.

ACOB, too, has no formal powers to block appointments, but it can advise former ministers not to take up new jobs for up to two years if it thinks they constitute a reward of favour.

Osbourne, who is the MP for Tatton, in Cheshire, has defended his decision to take up post as the editor of the London Evening Standard, arguing that he will be bringing 'different experiences' into the Commons.

Standards in Public Life committee chairman Lord Bew explained that the committee currently has no problem with second jobs as long as they are made known 'at the moment of the election'.

He suggested that second jobs help insure against a class of professional politicians with no experience of other occupations, but stressed that they must be within 'reasonable limits'.