MPs making millions from second jobs

Andrew Mitchell, the Tory MP at the centre of the Plebgate affair, reportedly made £6,000 a day by consulting for firms including banking groups

Andrew Mitchell, the Tory MP at the centre of the Plebgate affair, declared £103,000 (Getty Images)

MPs have made millions of pounds through their second jobs, with some earning more via other pastimes than their parliamentary salary.

Top gains came from public speaking, legal work and television presenting.

An analysis of parliamentary records by The Guardian newspaper found 20 MPs declared more than £100,000 from outside ventures.

The research found that Charles Hendry, a former minister of state at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, banked around £100,000 from three companies – offshore wind group Forewind, and energy companies Atlantic Superconnection and Vitol.

In response to the findings, Hendry told the newspaper: “As you will be aware, I am leaving parliament at the next election. As there is no longer a resettlement payment for MPs who step down voluntarily (quite rightly), I have started the process of developing external interests ahead of that time.”

Andrew Mitchell, the Tory MP at the centre of the Plebgate affair, declared £103,000. He reportedly made £6,000 a day by consulting for firms including banking groups.

Mark Prisk, the former minister of state for housing and local government, declared an income of between £15,000 and £20,000 from private rental provider Essential Living.

The Respect party’s MP George Galloway also made the list of high-earning politicians. He made £100,000 from Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, and £96,000 from Arab television channel Al-Mayadeen.

The Guardian reported Galloway’s spokesman as saying the disclosed figures were an “attempt to smear” the MP, and “his media earnings are for a few hours’ work a week.”