Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has this week said she would never have more than one job while serving as the area’s member of Parliament as a row raged in Westminster over politician’s ‘jobs on the side’.
Tessa Munt’s comments came after two former foreign secretaries were suspended from their parliamentary parties on Monday after being secretly filmed allegedly offering their services to a private company for cash. Both Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw say they have broken no rules.
However, Burnham’s MP Tessa Munt told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I have one job as your MP, which I love. My team calculated that I work in excess of one hundred hours most weeks – I’m not complaining as I put myself forward to do it!”
“But I fail to see how anyone can do this job properly with the distraction of one, two, three or more other jobs on the side, not to mention the clear conflict of interest which is almost certain to arise.”
“I have some sympathy with those who are required to undertake a minimum number of hours to stay qualified, for example medical professionals.”
Labour leader Ed Miliband has written to the Prime Minister calling for a ban on MPs having second jobs.
