Nigel Farage has insited he will not be bullied by a Labour frontbencher trying to clampdown on MPs’ second jobs in the media.
The Reform leader and Lee Anderson host regular GB News shows, while several others have already listed payments for TV appearances and newspaper articles in their registers of interests.
Speaking on GB News, Mr Farage said: “I’m not a whinger. I’m not a whiner. I’m a very happy, jolly, positive person who’s always looking forwards. But excuse me, if you will, I’m going to have a little whinge.”
He continued: ” Lucy Powell, who is Leader of the House, has set up a new committee, a new modernisation committee. When you hear that word, you should always have a slight shiver down the spine.
“And I tell you what they’re really going for. They’re talking about second jobs, but in particular, what they’re talking about is broadcasting. And it says the committee will consider what advantages, if any, outside paid engagement, such as media appearances, journalism and speeches furnished to the public versus potential conflicts of interest.”
“Well, folks, I want to tell you this. I don’t see any conflict of interest between being an MP and coming here three evenings a week for an hour. And by the way, if there are crucial votes I just won’t be here.
“I don’t see any conflicts of interest whatsoever. In fact, I might make an argument that’s slightly different; that I’m here with a panel of people. Some agree with me, some disagree with me. We have an open debate.
“I’d like to think that through programmes like this, what we actually do is take what’s really happening in politics and bring it to a bigger audience. So I think it’s complementary.
“So all I can say to Lucy Powell is this really affects Lee Anderson and myself. And if you’re coming after us and think you can bully us, you’ve picked on the wrong people. I’m not going anywhere you want to martyr me, please have a go.”
Overhauling standards was at the top of a list of priorities published by the new Commons Modernisation Committee on Thursday after the last Parliament saw 16 MPs suspended for at least one day – more than in the previous five Parliaments combined.
In a note setting out its priorities on Thursday, the committee said: “Members across the House will know that the events of recent years and the misconduct of individual members has eroded public trust and confidence in this institution.
“It is incumbent on all of us to embody the high standards that the public expect of us and we must all act to change and improve the reputation of this place.”
As well as looking at potential changes to Parliament’s culture that would “address cultural issues of bullying and harassment and sexual harassment”, MPs’ second jobs in the media are likely to be a major focus for the committee.
Its note said the committee “should consider what advantages, if any, outside paid engagements such as media appearances, journalism and speeches furnish to the public, versus the potential conflicts of interest and attention that arise from such paid endeavours”.
The new Government has already approved a crackdown on second jobs, with MPs tightening the rules to ban their colleagues from providing paid advice on policy or how Parliament works.
