Leicester MP Hewitt 'immoral' for taking up her fourth job with bank
City MP Patricia Hewitt has taken on a job with the capital investment wing of a large international bank.
The Leicester West MP has been carrying out her role on the Asia Pacific Advisory Committee of Barclays Capital in addition to her three other jobs outside Parliament – with BT, Boots and equity firm Cinven.
It is unclear how much Barclays will pay Ms Hewitt for the job which sees her providing the "British perspective" to the bank's investment activities in the Far East.
However, the news has led to further attacks on Ms Hewitt from her own party, elements of which are still unhappy with her after she recently publicly challenged the Prime Minister's leadership.
Speaking from India yesterday, she said: "Barclays Capital has a long established business in the Asia Pacific region, and their advisory committee is mainly made up of members from the region.
"But there has always been a British member, who has been a former minister who can provide the British perspective to the committee."
Ms Hewitt, who has been both Secretary of State for Health and for Trade and Industry, will stand down from her seat at the next General Election.
She argues that her commitments outside Parliament do not detract from her work for people in Leicester.
The MP has logged the Barclays job in the parliamentary register of interests.
However, the record does not say how much she is being paid for her work. Under rules introduced last year, all MPs must state any payments they have received from individuals or companies for work outside Parliament.
Neither Ms Hewitt or Barclays would comment on how much she was paid.
Earlier this month, she joined with former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to call for a secret ballot on whether the Labour leader should remain in position.
One left winger claimed it would be impossible for Ms Hewitt to be an effective MP for her constituents while doing so many other jobs.
Alan Simpson MP said: "When I stood for Parliament it was on the assumption that it was a full-time job – it's a full-time job and a half, in fact.
"It's completely immoral for MPs to use their position to give themselves more jobs.
"It compounds the insult that they end up getting paid two, three or four times more from their directorships then they do as an MP."
Ms Hewitt already sits on the board of BT Group and has declared an income of £59,475 for 140 hours of work since July.
She also works for Alliance Boots, who paid her £23,000 for 75 hours' work and was given £17,250 by Cinven Ltd for 30 hourswork .
17 Comments
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by Dave, Knighton
Friday, January 22 2010, 3:50PM
“There are TWO things I dislike about that woman.
Her face!”
by Robert, thurmaston
Friday, January 22 2010, 3:46PM
“Its ok if they earn side income.but they should n t claim full MP expence allowance,should be proportion only. big con.”
by Ian, Leicester West
Friday, January 22 2010, 3:25PM
“Four jobs and MP (until the election) where does she find the time does she have a 36 hour watch?”
by Moley, Braunstone
Friday, January 22 2010, 2:30PM
“Before the next election I wil be expected to knock on ordinary peoples door and ask them to vote for the Labour candidate, how can I under these circumstances.”
by Michael Taylor, Leicester
Friday, January 22 2010, 2:24PM
“Save your protests, folks. She's not reading these comments and doesn't care anyway.”
by Moley, Braunstone
Friday, January 22 2010, 2:04PM
“Patricia Hewitt and I go back a long way in the Labour Party and I remember a time when Pat would have condemmed this greedy behaviour herself. What happens to our politians when we give them power, they forget who put them there. It is the people of North Braunstone and Leicester West that put you in power and this is how you replay our loyalty, allowing you mouth to be stuffed with gold. What has changed since you become our MP, much that is superficial but little that is substantial.”
by John, Leicester NHS
Friday, January 22 2010, 1:48PM
“"She also works for Alliance Boots, who paid her £23,000 for 75 hours' work and was given £17,250 by Cinven Ltd for 30 hourswork ."
£40,250 for 105 hours work ???
Until MPs get a grip on reality who can trust or vote for ANY of them ?”
by John, Leicester
Friday, January 22 2010, 12:49PM
“Employed to give The British perspective!!! She is Austrailian!”
by Huggy, Leicester
Friday, January 22 2010, 11:59AM
“After reading about Mz Hewit and her jobs then seeing about Harry Cohen M.P tells me that our Politians just hold the Public in contempet none of them should hold public office”
by Andrew, Leicestershire
Friday, January 22 2010, 11:39AM
“Is being an MP a fulltime job or not? If it is, they should be banned from undertaking any other work, and if it isnt, they should be paid less to reflect their partime working.”