WHILE the Commons was sitting, a Tory MP took some time out to do his second job advising the government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Sir Geoffrey Cox QC joined day 55 of the British Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry via video link on Wednesday, prompting fresh calls for Boris Johnson to act on MPs' second jobs.
Cox, a former Tory minister and current MP for Torridge and West Devon, hit headlines when he was seen to have made up to £900,000 advising the government in its corruption inquiry.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner described Cox's appearance at the inquiry as "taking the mick" and Johnson was letting him "get away with it".
READ MORE: Scottish Tory MSPs raking in a combined £325k from second jobs
She said this is a "test of leadership" for the Prime Minister, who she described as "spineless and cowardly", and whether he is "serious about tackling corruption & stopping his MPs from having dodgy second jobs".
You can be an MP representing your constituents or you can represent a tax haven against our own government. You cannot be both and Boris Johnson needs to decide which Geoffrey Cox will be.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) November 24, 2021
She added: "You can be an MP representing your constituents or you can represent a tax haven against our own government. You cannot be both and Boris Johnson needs to decide which Geoffrey Cox will be."
Cox was referred to the Commons standards commissioner by Labour after he appeared to be using his Westminster office for external work.
The Prime Minister has backed a ban on MPs working as paid consultants or lobbyists and insisted that anyone “prioritising outside interests” and neglecting their constituents should face investigation.
READ MORE: 'Oh come on!': Nicola Sturgeon riles up Tory MSP with second jobs jibe
Cox has defended his outside interests by arguing that “it is up to the electors of Torridge and West Devon whether or not they vote for someone who is a senior and distinguished professional in his field and who still practices that profession”.
He was asked to advise the BVI government and has described his role at the hearings as being “to assist the public inquiry in getting to the truth”.
Cox was paid more than £54,000 for legal work in October, the most recent update to the register of MPs’ interests shows.
The sum brought his total earnings from legal work for 2021 to almost £955,000 on top of his MP’s salary of £81,932.
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