Plans to cap UK MPs' income from second jobs dropped

According to the Guardian, ministers told the Commons standards committee that placing a time limit or ceiling on second earnings would be "impractical".

The proposals were tabled following the Owen Paterson scandal, in which the former Tory minister was revealed to have repeatedly demanded access to ministers and regulators on behalf of paying clients.

Steve Barclay and Mark Spencer have responded to the proposals from the Commons standards committee, calling its proposals 'impractical'

It was also revealed ex-attorney general Geoffrey Cox had pocketed earnings of nearly £6 million since joining Parliament.

Boris Johnson had threatened to crack down on MPs' second jobs in response to the public furore.

READ MORE: Will Tories who voted to protect Owen Paterson now be regretting it?

Johnson's deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, said the Government would back limits, within reason, on MPs' earnings outside of Parliament. He said: "You could do it one of two ways, by the amount, or by the number of hours. We've asked the committee on standards to work up the detail by January."

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab

The standards committee released its proposals for the code of conduct in November. It said MPs should face a "complete ban" on undertaking work as paid consultants, and that ministers should be more transparent about any conflicts of interest between their role in government and their second job.

However, the Government is reported to no longer support of such limits.

A submission to the consultation by the Common Standards Committee, made by Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Mark Spencer, House of Commons Leader, reads: "It is the government's initial view that the position of fixed constraints such as time limits on the amount of time that Members can spend on outside work would be impractical."

READ MORE: Geoffrey Cox ‘does not believe’ he broke rules by using MP office for other work

“The imposition of time limits would not necessarily serve to address recent concerns over paid advocacy and the primary duty of MPs to serve their constituents. It could be possible, for example, for a Member to conduct work within the accepted time limits but that does not necessarily mean such work is ‘appropriate’ even if it did not constitute ‘paid advocacy’.”

Steve Barclay, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster

The pair added: “In respect of a cap on earnings from outside work to impose such a limit could serve to prohibit activities which do not bring undue influence to bear on the political system. Earnings from activities such as writing books for example, would not preclude Members from meeting their principal duty to their constituents.”

The Government will vote on its final decision after the consultation has been completed and the committee has put together its final report.