Tory loudmouth Lee Anderson has lost half his audience as viewers desert his £100,000-a-year GB News show.
The Conservative deputy chairman’s programme has been hit by plummeting ratings after only three episodes.
Just 37,000 people tuned in on Friday night, way down on the 77,000 who watched the week before.
Viewers appear to have already grown tired of Mr Anderson’s strange show that has seen him feed cold baked beans to a fellow Tory MP and try unsuccessfully to convince another guest to eat cat food.
The Tory, who earns £86,584 as an MP, has started moonlighting as a TV presenter even though he used to rail against those who split their time between the Commons and other work. “I don’t have a second job, I love the job I have already,” he previously posted on Facebook.
Mr Anderson also publicly denounced ex-Cabinet minister Owen Paterson as he faced a row over outside work. “We are paid handsomely for the job we do and if you need an extra £100,000 a year on top then you should really be looking for another job,” he posted.
The disappointing ratings come after it was revealed Mr Anderson is being investigated for using the rooftop of his taxpayer-funded Commons office to film a promo for his show. The Mirror revealed last month he had recorded a plug for the GB News programme on the parliamentary estate.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg announced earlier this week he had launched a sleaze probe into Mr Anderson. The House of Commons said the matter under investigation was “the use of facilities [Roof Terrace on the Parliamentary estate] provided by Parliament”.
The MP used a terrace overlooking Whitehall and Parliament Square for the clip in which he pleaded for viewers to get in contact with questions for him. The Code of Conduct for MPs states: “Excepting modest and reasonable personal use, Members must ensure that the use of facilities and services provided to them by Parliament, including an office, is in support of their parliamentary activities.”
Rishi Sunak appointed Mr Anderson as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party in February despite his history of saying controversial things. He has repeatedly ranted about struggling Brits relying on foodbanks - and earned the nickname '30p Lee' for his claims about the cost of meals.
The Ashfield MP sparked fury in January by claiming foodbank users squander their cash on cigarettes, alcohol, expensive TV subscriptions and holidays.
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