A heated clash erupted on GB News over MPs holding multiple jobs, with political commentator James Schneider firmly opposing the practice of parliamentary "side hustles".
He insisted MPs should focus solely on their parliamentary duties, with rare exceptions for maintaining professional qualifications.
His comments after The Mirror blasted Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for having "nine jobs."
Farage responded to the article: “These figures are nonsense. I work more hours a week than most people could even contemplate.”
James Schneider said: "I want MPs to go and attack the day like Mike says, but I want them to attack the day for the people that they're meant to serve.
"This is not a thing against Nigel Farage particularly. I don't want any MPs to have these lucrative side hustles.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
"I don't think that's what they are elected to do. I don't think that they should have jobs full stop, apart from if you have to do a certain number of hours to keep a professional qualification, like a doctor or a nurse or something.
"Other than that, no, I think they work for us. And that's what the job should be.
"I don't think that we should be having MPs who have side hustles."
Mike Parry responded: "Side hustle? That's an insult. A side hustle.
"You mean another job? Where do we get real life experience from in MPs?
"If all's they do is sit in the House of Commons all day and don't get out there and do it amongst the people of this country."
Schneider hit back: "We should say MPs are going to be paid reasonably and they should do the bloody job. They should do the job.
"They shouldn't be looking around and saying, how can I use the fact that I'm an MP to get more money doing something else? No, that's not okay."
Keir Starmer had previously pledged to ban MPs from taking nearly all outside jobs after Owen Paterson was found in late 2021 to have broken lobbying rules on behalf of two companies employing him.
It had been suggested such a wider ban could include all outside work apart from roles requiring continuous practice to keep professional registrations, such as working as a doctor or lawyer.
However, Labour subsequently moved away from that pledge, and it did not appear in the party's manifesto ahead of the election earlier this month.
Find Out More...
He insisted MPs should focus solely on their parliamentary duties, with rare exceptions for maintaining professional qualifications.
His comments after The Mirror blasted Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for having "nine jobs."
Farage responded to the article: “These figures are nonsense. I work more hours a week than most people could even contemplate.”
James Schneider said: "I want MPs to go and attack the day like Mike says, but I want them to attack the day for the people that they're meant to serve.
"This is not a thing against Nigel Farage particularly. I don't want any MPs to have these lucrative side hustles.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Lord Walney reveals reason Labour refuse to do a public inquiry: 'Important that we are clear!
- Mike Parry delivers furious rant at Labour for 'being frightened' to address grooming gangs scandal
- Mauritius in 'no rush' to secure Chagos deal before Trump presidency despite Starmer's desire
"I don't think that's what they are elected to do. I don't think that they should have jobs full stop, apart from if you have to do a certain number of hours to keep a professional qualification, like a doctor or a nurse or something.
"Other than that, no, I think they work for us. And that's what the job should be.
"I don't think that we should be having MPs who have side hustles."
Mike Parry responded: "Side hustle? That's an insult. A side hustle.
"You mean another job? Where do we get real life experience from in MPs?
"If all's they do is sit in the House of Commons all day and don't get out there and do it amongst the people of this country."
Schneider hit back: "We should say MPs are going to be paid reasonably and they should do the bloody job. They should do the job.
"They shouldn't be looking around and saying, how can I use the fact that I'm an MP to get more money doing something else? No, that's not okay."
Keir Starmer had previously pledged to ban MPs from taking nearly all outside jobs after Owen Paterson was found in late 2021 to have broken lobbying rules on behalf of two companies employing him.
It had been suggested such a wider ban could include all outside work apart from roles requiring continuous practice to keep professional registrations, such as working as a doctor or lawyer.
However, Labour subsequently moved away from that pledge, and it did not appear in the party's manifesto ahead of the election earlier this month.
Find Out More...