No Second Job

That led to BBC Sussex following up the story on Wed of this week in their early morning programme. Both Greg and myself were asked to comment but Greg was 'too busy' to appear. He has however found time to defend himself in the Observer Newspaper this week.

There is a sound case for a person's previous business experience contributing to making that person a better MP. It does not however follow that continuing in employment during office makes for a better or more effective member of Parliament.

David Cameron has pledged that all of his members will cease to carry out outside work by the end of the year. Why not with immediate effect or indeed by the start of the new Parliamentary year in October? We can only assume that there has been an ongoing commitment by Mr Barker and he and other MP's have been given time to wind this up.

I am pleased to see that Norman Baker our nearest Liberal Democrat MP in Lewes does not have a second job and when elected to Parliament I certainly would not expect to continue my Garden Design Consultancy.

Mr Barker's admission that he needs to give 110 percent to Bexhill and Battle demonstrates that it is a very demanding position and any other employment is a distraction. The recent and continuing debate on MPs pay and expenses has at least highlighted the extent of the time commitment required for the post.

My final concern on this matter is that our MP has a serious conflict of interest in this work. In the position of a local councillor, that councillor would be prevented or at least seriously restricted from speaking in Council on a matter from which he or she stood to gain financially through employment. As a shadow minister for Climate Change is giving paid advice on the subject to investment companies right and proper?