Green Party

The Green Party's General Election candidate for Norwich South, Adrian Ramsay, is challenging Labour’s Charles Clarke to commit to not pursuing paid directorships or consultancies outside of being an MP – if he is re-elected on Thursday.

Adrian Ramsay believes that being an MP is a full-time job, that it is paid accordingly and that it is inappropriate for MPs to pursue paid directorships and consultancies at the same time. He has promised that, if elected, he will be a full-time MP for Norwich South.

Mr Clarke makes no secret of the fact that he has other jobs, and what he does is entirely within current rules. On his own website he explains his position thus:

“When I left Government in 2006 I decided that I was ready to take on other roles which were offered to me, both to broaden my experience and to earn roughly the same total income as I had had whilst in Government.

“This is what has happened and I have received fees for a range of additional activities, including writing, broadcasting and making speeches and films, a non-executive directorship in Norwich and some consultancies for specific projects. The total amount of time which I have spent on these activities has been vastly less than I spent as a Minister, totalling on average about 20 to 30 hours a month. I have declared my activities in the Register of Members' Interest and (of course) paid tax on all income.”

Mr Clarke is a non-executive director of LJ Create, a company supplying educational IT equipment, a consultant to the law firm Beachcroft and to the investment house Charles Street Securities. He has also worked on a project for the international accountants KPMG.

It has been reported that Mr Clarke has earned in excess of £145,000 from his outside activities on top of his salary has an MP. From April 1st this year an MP’s salary is £65,738. Other Parliamentary jobs, such as being a government minister, attract extra salary.

Adrian Ramsay said:

“Being an MP is a full-time job. Representing over 70,000 people in Parliament and helping them with their local issues is a serious and time-consuming role. MPs who are not Government ministers also have a crucial role to play in scrutinising legislation and Government proposals. MPs who pursue consultancies or directorships often have a conflict of interest between influencing public opinion on behalf of a lobby group and influencing public opinion as an elected politician. I would argue, for example, that it is inappropriate for a former Education Secretary to write a report on behalf of a private company arguing that there should be more charges for people to use parts of the education system in the future. If an MP wants to contribute to public debate on Government policy, they can and should do it as part of their role as an MP – not on behalf of a private company that may have a vested interest.

“If I am elected as MP for Norwich South on Thursday I commit to not pursuing another career, or paid directorships or consultancies, at the same time. Today I am asking Charles Clarke whether he will make the same commitment.”

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