'Six job Tory' Brandon Lewis adds extra roles worth £150k on top of £86k MP pay

29 August 2023 , 17:00

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The top Tory resigned from Government when Rishi Sunak took over in October (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Ex-Justice Secretary Sir Brandon Lewis has been accused of brazenly seeking to "line his pockets" by taking on five second jobs since stepping down.

The top Tory resigned from Government when Rishi Sunak took over in October - and has since taken on a string of lucrative outside roles, earning at least £150,000 on top of his £86,584-a-year MP salary. The jobs, detailed in the register of members of interests, include £60,000-a-year gigs with property developer Thakeham Homes and infrastructure firm FM Conway, as well as a £30,000-a-year post as a consultant for Civitas Investment Management.

He also became a director of a private schools group more than 100 miles away from his Great Yarmouth constituency, for which he waived payment. Sir Brandon has also become an unpaid patron of the right-wing Adam Smith Institute, which has previously criticised the crackdown on MP second jobs. He logged 28 hours per month on outside work, equating to an hourly rate of £625, according to Labour analysis.

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds said: “MPs are elected to represent our constituents and serve the country - but increasing numbers of Tory MPs are simply checking out and stacking up private sector roles. Brandon Lewis has brazenly sought to line his pockets only months after leaving government, in yet another example of the Tories giving up on governing." She told Mr Sunak to "get a grip on his moonlighting MPs".

MPs who aren't in Government posts are allowed to hold second jobs but they must declare additional income, as well as gifts, donations and shareholdings. But outside work by MPs was dragged into the spotlight in 2021 after the Owen Paterson scandal, when the former Tory Cabinet Minister was found to have broken Parliament's ban on paid lobbying.

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Mr Johnson, who was PM at the time, said there should be "reasonable limits" on outside work but later dropped plans to cap MPs’ hours or pay from their second jobs. Between No10 in September and quitting in June, Mr Johnson banked more than £5 million in outside earnings, including lucrative speeches and a £510,000 advance to write his memoir.

Downing Street has said MPs are expected to focus on working for their constituents.

Mr Lewis did not respond to requests for comment.

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Lizzy Buchan