RUTH Davidson’s new position with a lobbying firm means she joins more than 30 other MSPs making money outside of their political work.
According to the Scottish Parliament’s register of interests, 35 members earn cash from outside jobs, shareholdings or renting out properties, not including the former Scottish Tory leader.
The majority are members of the Conservatives, with 17 Tory MSPs pulling in extra cash. The highest outside earner is North East Scotland Tory MSP Bill Bowman, who holds almost £1 million in declared shares in 15 different companies, including banking giant JP Morgan.
READ MORE: Ruth Davidson job row sparks Edinburgh Central by-election talk
Next on the list is Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Donald Cameron, who holds £700,000 in shares of Green Highland Renewables (Achnacarry) Ltd, along with non-executive directorships of Murray Income Trust plc and Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust plc, both of which pay between £25,000 and £30,000 a year.
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne earns between £5000 and £10,000 for one or two days a month work in family manufacturing firm Ballantynes of Walkerburn, as well as holding £247,000 in shares in the company.
Edward Mountain also ranks high on the list, with the MSP making between £160,000 and £200,000 every year from eight properties, including through renting and farming.
He also owns shares in banks BNP Paribas and HSBC, worth £39,744 and £53,707 respectively, according to the register.
Fellow Tory MSP Brian Whittle holds shares worth £205,000 in Uniquedoc Ltd, while party colleague Rachael Hamilton (above) holds £161,158 in Border Hotels Ltd.
Conservative MSP for West Aberdeenshire Alexander Burnett pulls in between £181,000 and £197,000 from his ownership of property leasing and forestry company AJA Burnett Estate, along with a directorship of Bancon Development Holdings Ltd and membership of St Andrews Street Development LLP.
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