Members’ Paid Directorships and Consultancies

Andrew Gwynne Excerpts

Wednesday 25th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Ms Eagle]

I last heard that the Scottish National party had received some particularly large donations from individuals, but I do not want to have this kind of debate about the issue. I am trying to talk about the future, and about how the House regulates matters that have such an important bearing on the way in which our constituents regard this place and us. If we are to increase trust in our politics, we must pay very close attention to what is happening in this instance.

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

rose—

[Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)]

rose—

[Ms Eagle]

I will give way to my hon. Friend first and then to the hon. Gentleman, but after that I really must get on with my speech.

[Andrew Gwynne]

Is not the issue that we are in danger of seeing a toxic mix, and that politicians just do not get it? Does my hon. Friend agree that we must send the clear message that being a Member of Parliament is an honour and a privilege, and a full-time job?

[Ms Eagle]

I could not agree more.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ian Murray]

rose—

[Andrew Gwynne]

rose—

[Mr Hague]

I shall give way to the hon. Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray), who asked first.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hague]

Salaries and allowances are for IPSA, but there have been independent reports on this issue. Again, I will come to that in a moment, but I just want to finish the point about the substantial increase in transparency that has rightly taken place in recent years. That does not mean we have finished the job of making Parliament more responsive to public concerns. The shadow Leader of the House has said some things about what will be in the Labour manifesto on this, but there will be matters about Parliament in the Conservative manifesto, including reducing the size of the House of Commons, and equalising the size of constituencies, thereby being fair to all parties and all constituencies, and saving money in the process.

[Andrew Gwynne]

But surely the right hon. Gentleman understands, when he talks about transparency, that it is also about how we as Members of Parliament and this House of Commons are viewed from outside. Does he therefore agree with his colleague and former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine that being an MP is

“not a full-time job”?

[Mr Hague]

I was about to agree with something the Leader of the Opposition said, so I hope the hon. Gentleman will let me go on to that. Certainly I found when I was Foreign Secretary, for instance, that I still performed the functions of a Member of Parliament, even though I spent probably 90% of my time on being Foreign Secretary.

On Monday, the Leader of the Opposition wrote to the Prime Minister and said:

“I believe MPs are dedicated to the service of their constituents and the overwhelming majority follow the rules.”

The shadow Leader of the House said a similar thing just now, and I believe that is right, across all parties—I hope I can say that as Leader of the House. The Leader of the Opposition went on to say that

“the British people need to know that when they vote they are electing someone who will represent them directly, and not be swayed by what they may owe to the interests of others.”

He wrote that without a hint of irony, having been elected entirely dependent on trade union votes and having presided over the most union-dominated Labour party in 30 years. Of all the candidates selected under his leadership, 61% are union-linked, and more than half of those come from a single union. He did not see the irony in what he was writing.