The British government is preparing to implement stringent measures targeting Members of Parliament who substantially boost their £91,346 base salary through lucrative media contracts. The proposed regulations aim to address mounting concerns over MPs’ external income sources and potential conflicts of interest.
Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, will initiate discussions regarding these enhanced restrictions during Tuesday’s all-party standards committee hearing. The existing framework has enabled several MPs to secure significant media contracts, notably with GB News. Lee Anderson of Reform UK declared a £100,000 annual income for eight hours of weekly broadcasting work, whilst former Conservative minister Jacob Rees-Mogg registered earnings exceeding £300,000 annually for his presenting role.
The Labour Party’s David Lammy, now serving as Foreign Secretary, previously topped opposition earnings with additional income of £243,800 between 2019 and 2023, including £99,300 from his LBC radio programme. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage has demonstrated particularly diverse income streams, combining a £189,300 role as a gold bullion company’s brand ambassador with a £98,000 monthly GB News presenting contract.
The government’s initiative builds upon earlier reforms that prohibited MPs from receiving payment for public policy advice or parliamentary guidance. Ministers are now seeking cross-party consensus before presenting comprehensive proposals to the House of Commons. The modernisation committee, established post-election, is collaborating with the standards committee to develop these reforms.
Powell emphasises that while maintaining professional qualifications and expertise remains valuable, the government pledged further action in its manifesto. The proposed changes specifically target exclusive media contracts that might compromise parliamentary integrity rather than general media appearances. This reform package represents a significant step towards restoring public trust in political institutions and reinforcing the principle of public service in parliamentary roles.
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