Being a Member of Parliament is a privilege. It’s not a second job. It’s the job. But for a band of Tories, it appears nothing more than a vehicle to line their own pockets.
Led By Donkeys’ video of senior Tory MPs, interviewing for a fake company, including Kwasi Kwarteng, the former Chancellor who took a wrecking ball to the economy, is as shocking as it is shameful.
It’s not just the eye watering £10,000 per-date rate that Matt Hancock desperately bartered for that is staggering.
The fact they thought they could seemingly get away with running roughshod over the rules by using their taxpayer-funded offices for the meeting takes the cake.
In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis many of our constituents are sick with worry about how they’ll make it to the next pay day.
It’s galling to see the eyes of the former Health Secretary and ex-Chancellor’s eyes light up as they gleefully plot to rake in thousands. Out of touch doesn’t cover it - they’re on another planet from those they’re also paid to represent.
Casework from constituents is overflowing since the pandemic, and yet Tory MPs have got time on their hands, and money on their minds. They’re on the make and on the take.
These caught-out MPs have shown an embarrassing lack of judgement and let their constituents down.
This isn’t just an issue for Parliament’s watchdogs, but public trust.
The rot sets in from the top, and Rishi Sunak can’t wash his hands of yet another Tory scandal.
He promised integrity at every level, but he’s letting his MPs off the hook. It’s high time he acted and booted them from his Tory benches.
While the Tories’ addiction to sleaze and scandal continues, Labour has a plan to clean up politics by banning MPs from taking second jobs for personal gain.
There is a case to allow doctors to continue practising, or for MPs to reach the voters in the media. But ultimately, politicians are not the right people to act as judge and jury, which is why Labour will set up an Independent Ethics and Integrity Commission to restore standards in public life.
