A renewed debate in Britain over MPs taking lucrative jobs

Controversy reignited in Britain yesterday over representatives in the House of Commons taking on lucrative second jobs after two MPs were filmed negotiating to offer advice to a South Korean company for £10,000 a day.
The organization Lead by Donkeys, known for its anti-Brexit campaigns, set a trap for representatives of the Conservative Party and two former ministers: Matt Hancock, who served as health minister during the “Covid-19” pandemic, and Quasi Quarting, who served for some time as finance minister. Briefly in the fall of 2022.
In the UK it is legal for MPs to work in addition to their post, and there are no restrictions on the income they can earn, but they must declare it on the public register. In a video on Twitter led by Donkeys, it said it wanted to conduct an “experiment” amid the high-cost-of-living crisis. He explained: “When people need their MPs more than ever, would a Member of Parliament accept a job aimed at promoting the interests of a foreign company? How much does he want to pay for it?”
The organization contacted twenty representatives and said that a South Korean company wanted to develop its operations in the United Kingdom and that they should attend 6 meetings of the board of directors each year. This is a fake company created by the organization.
While the majority of delegates did not respond, Matt Hancock and Kwasi Quarting initiated negotiations via the “Zoom” app. Hancock asked, “Do you have a daily rate?” He replied, “Yes, at present, ten thousand pounds sterling.” Matt Hancock previously faced criticism for taking part in a reality TV show in Australia when he was an MP.
For his part, Kwasi Quarting replied that he would not earn less than $10,000 a month, before revising the amount to £10,000 a day. In September, then finance minister Kwasi Kwarting presented a budget that took financial markets by storm. And he was ousted from Lis Terrace’s government a few weeks later. While Quarting has not commented on the “Lead by Donkeys” video, a spokesperson for Matt Hancock said he respects the rules.
Responding to a question on the “Sky News” channel, Regional Redevelopment Minister Michael Gove explained that “the proposals are within the law”. He added, “The important thing is to know whether a deputy is living up to the expectations of his constituents.” For her part, Labor MP Lucy Powell said “litigation is a full-time job”. Pointing to a “problem” with the current rules, he added, “I don’t think anyone can watch this video without being disgusted.”