Seven MPs Are Spending At Least One Day A Week In Outside Jobs

Seven MPs have spent an average of one working day a week on second jobs this parliament, with additional gigs as TV presenters, lawyers and consultants.

- Michael Goodier

A Guardian analysis of self-declared working hours found the seven had notched up at least 300 hours – the equivalent of eight hours a week – in outside employment since last July. A further seven MPs had worked at least five hours a week on a second job.

Nigel Farage has earned more money than any other MP from second jobs in this parliament. The Reform UK leader has declared an average of about 24 hours of work a week as a cameo video creator, GB News presenter, media commentator, public speaker, Telegraph journalist, brand ambassador and social media influencer.

Farage has taken part in only a third of parliamentary votes this parliament, while the average MP has voted 72% of the time, according to the Public Whip project.

The figures do not include abstentions, meaning MPs could have been in parliament but not taken a side on an issue.

The Conservative MP George Freeman has worked an average of 11.5 hours a week in a number of science and technology advisory roles at private companies since July last year.