Cameron faces rebellion over ban on Tory ministers' lucrative second
jobs
By James Chapman
Last updated at 4:27 PM on 03rd November 2008
Mr Cameron wants to prevent Labour from accusing his Shadow Cabinet of
being millionaire fat cats
David Cameron is facing a battle with his top team over plans to make
them rein in their outside interests in the run-up to the next General
Election.
The Tory leader is set to respond to criticism that he is presiding over
a 'part-time' shadow Cabinet by demanding that colleagues give up second
jobs.
He may even insist that some put assets into trusts to prevent claims of
conflicts of interest.
Critics have questioned the Tories' ability to hold the Government to
account when so many are spending time earning money in the City or on
the after-dinner speaking circuit.
Almost half of those attending shadow Cabinet - 15 out of 31 - hold
directorships or other paid jobs away from politics.
The party insists working outside Parliament gives politicians vital
experience in the 'real world'.
But there is concern that unless they scale back their outside
interests, Labour will seek to depict the Conservatives as the party of
millionaires at the next election.
Tory sources said Mr Cameron had not yet issued any order to his top
team to give up their second jobs, but confirmed an announcement was
expected nearer the election.
One said yesterday: 'We cannot have potential conflicts of interests as
we try to look like a government-in-
However, the edict risks antagonising some shadow ministers, who insist
their extra earnings are on merit and do not conflict with any of their
Parliamentary or party duties.
Oliver Letwin, coordinator of the general election manifesto, gets up in
the early hours of the morning to work as a non-executive director of
investment bank NM Rothschild before doing a full day's work at
Westminster.
Baroness Warsi, the shadow cohesion minister, draws a salary for part-
time business development work for the Shire Bed Company, a family bed
manufacturing firm.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague, one of the shadow Cabinet's
biggest earners, had made up to £110,000 this year on the after-dinner
speaking circuit.
Andrew Mitchell, the shadow international development secretary, is a
director of the Lazard and Co investment bank and earns between £35,000
and £40,000 a year as a senior strategy adviser to Accenture
consultants.
The Tory leader and his shadow Chancellor George Osborne do not have
outside interests, but will have to proceed with caution since they come
from rich families, unlike many of their colleagues.
One shadow minister said: 'Most people think it's sensible to have
complete transparency on these things and to tighten up further as an
election gets closer, but there will be real anger if it goes too far.
'People bend over backwards to avoid even a suggestion of a conflict of
interest. It may be true that the public doesn't like it but we are not
paid ministerial salaries and many people could be earning a lot more in
the private sector.'
Conservative activists appear divided on the issue.
One wrote on the ConservativeHome.
interested in making money than serving our country then let them walk.
'We need a shadow Cabinet dedicated to the cause, not part-time
politicians.
But another insisted: 'If we don't allow talented people to supplement
their incomes they won't become MPs - simple as that.'
The latest opinion poll, by BPIX, puts the Tories still on course for a
crushing victory over Labour, on 45 per cent to Labour's 31 per cent.
The 14-point lead would translate into a Commons majority of over 100
seats.
However, other polls in recent weeks have suggested the Tory lead has
been cut to single figures.
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Tuesday, 4 November 2008
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