Inside Politics: Labour claims ‘victory’ as PM forced into crackdown on MPs’ second jobs

Downing Street’s clean up operation on sleaze is in full swing. Boris Johnson has called for a crackdown on MPs’ second jobs, proposing a ban on “paid political consultants or lobbyists”. It is quite the turnaround for a prime minister who two weeks ago whipped his MPs to rip up sleaze rules to save Owen Paterson, who would now be some 10 days into his month-long suspension from the Commons had the government kept its mitts off independent disciplinary processes in parliament. Johnson’s well-timed intervention may have helped to take the sting out of a Labour press conference designed to attack his inaction on second jobs, but the PM now faces the wrath of his well-heeled colleagues who fear their lucrative side-hustles could soon disappear. Reports say the powerful 1922 Committee of Tories is raising concerns about the “vagueness” of the plans. Keir Starmer, whose party is calling for an outright ban on second jobs bar a few exceptions, claimed victory yesterday, saying the changes would not have been put forward had Labour not forced a vote on the matter later today. All eyes are now on the Commons for the opposition day debate and the PM’s appearance at a session of the Liaison Committee on “propriety and ethics in government.”

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

There’s no escaping the allegations of sleaze for Boris Johnson. After prime minister’s questions, Labour will use an opposition day debate to propose a ban on MPs’ taking second jobs as paid consultants and paid directors. At 3pm, Johnson will be quizzed by the Liaison Committee of senior MPs on “propriety and ethics in government.” The other subjects to be covered in the 90-minute session will be violence against women and girls, Cop26 and last month’s Budget and spending review. No time for the PM to do any outside work.

Coming up:

– International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan on ITV GMB at 8.30am

– Labour shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire on Times Radio Breakfast at 8.35am

JUST IN: UK inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, jumped to a decade-high of 4.2 per cent in October – up from 3.1 per cent in September and double the Bank of England’s target of 2 per cent. It comes after gas and electricity prices surged, with regulator Ofgem last month increasing the energy price cap by 12 per cent. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, said: “Many countries are experiencing higher inflation as we recover from Covid and we know people are facing pressures with the cost of living, which is why we are taking action worth more than £4.2 billion to help them. We’re helping people get into work, progress and keep more of what they earn, through our Plan for Jobs and by effectively cutting taxes for workers receiving Universal Credit. We are also providing more immediate support, including through the £500 million Household Support Fund for the most vulnerable families, fuel and alcohol duty freezes, and the energy price cap.” There was better news for Sunak yesterday as separate ONS figures showed that Britain’s jobs market has continued to rebound strongly despite the end of the furlough scheme in September.

CAUGHT IN A TRAP: Johnson is also planning to block MPs from doing second jobs which take away too much time from their constituents – a move thought to have been prompted by the publicity surrounding the hundreds of hours of work carried out by Sir Geoffrey Cox, the Torridge and West Devon MP and former attorney-general, who raked it in while working in the British Virgin Islands. The proposals are key recommendations of a 2018 report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. In his letter to Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, the PM said “it is a matter of regret that the House has not yet taken forward these specific recommendations given their relevance to recent events and the Government would like to see them adopted as a matter of urgency”. Someone ought to tell him who was in government all those years ago in 2018. Campaigners said it was “extraordinary” that the PM should be acting on it now after ignoring it for the past three years. The Times reports that the PM faces a major confrontation with backbenchers later over the second jobs crackdown. “It’s pouring petrol on to the flames. He’s caved to the left. Now if you have a consultancy it will be assumed you’re evil,” one told the paper.

MAYDAY: The announcement came after another embarrassing sleaze debate in the Commons, prompted by the Tory MP Christopher Chope, who on Monday night scuppered his boss’s plan to quietly “nod through” a late night motion to accept the standards committee’s original findings on the Paterson case, which the government tried to overturn but failed amid a huge backlash. The motion has now been passed. Former PM Theresa May, never one to miss an opportunity to lay the boot into her successor, left no holds barred as she tore into Johnson over his handling of sleaze, describing the Downing Street operation as “just plain wrong”. Michael Gove is the latest government minister to be drawn into sleaze allegations, with a report in this morning’s Guardian saying a Conservative Party donor who supported his failed leadership bid won £164m in Covid contracts after the minister referred his firm to a “VIP lane” that awarded almost £5bn to companies with political connections. Gove is among seven Tory MPs and peers who referred companies through a “VIP lane” for contracts handed out during the Covid crisis, a leaked document has revealed.

STANLEY ACCUSATIONS: Labour has urged the Tories to launch an investigation after a senior Conservative MP and a journalist accused Boris Johnson’s father, Stanley, of inappropriately touching them. Caroline Nokes, who is the chair of the parliamentary women and equalities committee, said he forcefully smacked her on the backside at the Conservative Party conference in 2003. Her allegation prompted political journalist Ailbhe Rea to say she was “groped” by the former MEP at the party conference in 2019. Johnson senior declined to comment to Sky News when approached over the claims, other than to say he has “no recollection of Caroline Nokes at all”. Labour said the “Conservative Party clearly needs to investigate a serious allegation like that”.

‘MERRY-GO-ROUND’: The suspect in the suicide bombing in Liverpool was able to exploit Britain’s “dysfunctional” asylum system to remain in the UK, Priti Patel has said. The home secretary linked the case to the “complete merry-go-round” of the system, claiming that a “whole industry” was devoted to defending the rights of individuals intent on causing harm. Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, reportedly arrived from the Middle East in 2014 and had an application for asylum rejected the following year, but remained in the UK. The investigation continues but detectives have so far failed to establish a motive for the failed bomb attack.

OFF THE FENCE: Following months of equivocation, Nicola Sturgeon finally appears to have come off the fence on the Cambo oil field amid pressure from campaigners. The Scottish first minister told MSPs yesterday afternoon that the North Sea site, off the coast of Shetland, “could not and should not pass any rigorous climate assessment” and therefore “should not get the green light”. Sturgeon previously said the development should be reassessed but stopped short of saying it should be cancelled.

“Owen Paterson broke the rules on paid advocacy and the attempt by right honourable and honourable members of this House, aided and abetted by the government, under cover of reform of the process effectively to clear his name was misplaced, ill-judged and just plain wrong.”

Former PM Theresa May on Paterson lobbying scandal.

“Tricky to see how Douglas Ross, Ben Bradley, Dan Jarvis etc who all have big public jobs away from Westminster as an MSP, Council chief or Mayor will get past the Government’s adoption of Standards Committee recommendation one: that they ‘prioritise’ the Commons.”

The Sun politics editor Harry Cole on PM’s move to tighten up rules on second jobs.

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