Paid Directorships and Consultancies (MPs)

James Morris Excerpts

Wednesday 17th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con)]

rose—

[Jon Trickett]

I will not give way yet.

Let us be honest: the demands on our time have increased dramatically since the time of Gladstone and, indeed, since 2009, when the current Prime Minister made the comments that I have just quoted. MPs are under more pressure than ever in their constituencies. Most of us spend more time than previous generations of MPs in the areas that we represent and our constituents rightly expect us to be there. I think that all Members on both sides of the House would agree that that is a positive development.

In addition to the work that we do in our constituencies, the role of Back Benchers in the Commons is changing. As reforms to the Select Committees, the modernisation of the House and the improved and increasingly intense scrutiny of legislation roll out, there is added pressure on our working week. There is also the fact that we live in an internet age of mass e-mails and 24/7 media. All that means that our work is increasing exponentially. In the mind of the public—