Moonlighting MPs Earn Thousands In Extra Cash.

Another blow to MP

The Sunday Telegraph revealed details of the outside interests of dozens of MPs who moonlight in positions ranging from legal and media work to crofting.

It comes ahead of the publication of an official Commons list of pay and hours worked.

Liberal Democrat John Hemming earns more than £200,000 a year from his business interests on top of his £64,766 salary, the newspaper said.

The Yardley MP is chairman and founder of computer software firm John Hemming Company LLP, which made him a profit of £206,125 in 2007-8.

The newspaper's research also found Nick Raynsford, the former housing minister, earns £148,000 from six private sector jobs - mostly connected to housing.

Former health secretary Alan Milburn, who has announced he will step down as an MP at the next general election, earns at least £115,000 a year from five outside employers - including Lloyds Pharmacy and Pepsi.

Paul Keetch, the Liberal Democrat MP for Hereford, is paid £48,000 a year through a company he owns for less than 40 days work a year advising an insurance broker and a tent supplier.

The new Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, was paid £40,000 by a healthcare firm that runs special needs schools after he wrote a government report on children with communication difficulties.

The strangest second job appeared to be that of shadow transport minister Robert Goodwill, who runs an eco-cemetery at his farm and occasionally digs graves.

However, the newspaper noted his business is expected to make a loss this year.

Under current rules, MPs must disclose all their outside employers and directorships in the Register of Members' Interests.

However, they do not have to say how long they spend on the work, and only need to give an indication of much they are paid if the job relates to their work as an MP.

Reforms coming into force this week mean they will need to list hours and details of pay.

Many at Westminster argue that allowing MPs to pursue second jobs keeps them in touch with the community, and gives them a fall-back career option if they lose their seats.

But in the wake of the damaging expenses scandal, there are likely to be accusations that some MPs are effectively "part-timers".