Committee publication · Correspondence · 8 July 2026
Correspondence from Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Leader of the House, on Members' second jobs, dated 22 June 26
From: Committee on Standards
Inquiry: Outside employment and interests
Summary
Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House, sets out the Government's position on restricting Members' second jobs, following his March appearance before the Committee. The Government supports a principle-based approach (time, money, influence) and backs banning second jobs except limited exceptions like maintaining professional qualifications and public service roles. It proposes prohibiting paid media roles while permitting media appearances, allowing pre-existing family businesses but not new ones, and implementing changes before Parliament ends.
Key findings
- Government endorses three principles for assessing second jobs: time (distraction), money (primary income impression), and influence (conflict of interest potential)
- Supports banning second jobs outside very limited exceptions, specifically maintaining professional qualifications and public service roles like military reservist positions
- Proposes prohibiting paid media roles while preserving MPs' ability to make unpaid media appearances as part of public engagement
- Allows Members to maintain pre-existing family businesses established before entering Parliament, but opposes starting new businesses during parliamentary service
- Seeks implementation before end of current Parliament with potential phased approach; emphasises rules must be clear and objective to avoid subjective enforcement decisions
Government position
Accepts the principle of restricting second jobs with limited exceptions. Government commits to a ban on second jobs outside maintaining professional qualifications and public service roles. Partially accepts media engagement by distinguishing between unpaid appearances (acceptable) and paid regular hosting roles (unacceptable). Defers detailed implementation and enforcement specifics to the Committee's proposals, which Parliament will ultimately decide upon.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Sir Alan Campbell, Alberto Casta, Committee on Standards, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, House of Commons
Notable line
“… a Member's primary duty is to serve their constituents, noting it is not possible to design a set of rules to account for every situation that Members of the House …”
Key Quotes
“The Government believes that further restrictions should be underpinned by the principle that a Member's primary duty is to serve their constituents”
“There are three principles that we believe should be considered in determining whether a second job is appropriate: e@ Time: does the work pose a significant distraction; e Money: do the earnings that an individual is gaining from this work give the impression ofthe second job being their primary source of income; and Influence: does the Member's second job influence their primary job …”
“… committed to the principle that second jobs for Members of Parliament should be banned outside very limited exceptions, such as maintaining a professional qualification”
“Members being in these roles can serve as a distraction from serving their constituents or fulfilling their parliamentary duties”
“| do not think it would be right for a Member to start a new business during their time in Parliament.”
“| believe we should not create the perception of one Parliament binding the next, particularly by imposing rules that the current Parliament is unwilling to apply to itself.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗