Blackburn MP Jack Straw takes £30k consultancy role
8:50pm Thursday 28th April 2011 in News
By Tom Moseley, Reporter
OUTSIDE WORLD Jack Straw
BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw has been appointed as a consultant for an international company on a salary of £30,000.
The former cabinet minister said he would be an adviser on foreign affairs to ED & F Man, which specialises in products including sugar, coffee and biofuels.
He insisted the new role would not detract from his duties as Blackburn MP, for which he is already paid £65,738 a year, and pledged not to lobby Parliament on behalf of the company.
One critic said no MPs should be allowed second jobs as they should focus on representing their constituents.
But Mr Straw said: “I have never accepted that argument.
"There are 168 hours in the week, and I will work on Blackburn for a least 60 and maybe sleep for 50.
“Providing there’s no conflict, I have long taken the view that I am not against people doing other things.
"I had two jobs as a minister. I think it’s really important that politicians are involved with the outside world.”
Under current rules, cabinet ministers are banned from outside appointments, and other MPs’ external roles have to be vetted by a special committee to check for conflict of interest.
Mr Straw, who left front-bench politics after 30 years following last year’s General Election, added: “It certainly won’t impact on my constituency responsibilities at all.
"Since I left the front bench I have more time to devote to the constituency.”
ED & F Man describes itself as one of the leading providers of sugar, molasses, animal feed, tropical oils, biofuels, coffee and financial services.
It was set up in 1793 and employs 4,000 people.
Coun David Foster, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “My position is that if you’re an MP, that’s your full-time job and it’s what you should be putting your energy into.”
But Jake Berry, Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen, was more supportive.
He said: “My view is that one of the thing that keeps this Parliament diverse is if you give people the opportunity to work in the world of industry.”
Comments(16)
Reuben Starkadder
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9:24pm Thu 28 Apr 11
Dickiepayshey
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9:39pm Thu 28 Apr 11
Lifeinthemix
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10:02pm Thu 28 Apr 11
Dickiepayshey
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10:26pm Thu 28 Apr 11
Lifeinthemix wrote:I would have thought that it would be sensible to be 'street savy' before attempting to represent the 'the people'.
I have to agree with Jack here, it is important we have street savy MP's, or we end up with the likes of ed balls and his missis, the milliband brothers and all the new breed politicians straight out of nursery, the banking sector or direct from intelligence.
whirlingdervish
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10:47pm Thu 28 Apr 11
dreamerbfc
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11:08pm Thu 28 Apr 11
Any minute now he will be telling us that there are Weapons of Mass destruction in Iraq and that PFI makes financial sense. Ha ha you really couldn't make it up - pity all those who fell for his "charm" and actually voted for him.
Monsters mum
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12:36am Fri 29 Apr 11
shytalk
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8:42am Fri 29 Apr 11
No wonder this country is in such a f-----g mess
Nostradamous
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9:19am Fri 29 Apr 11
The political system of this country fas been ripped apart by the Straws,Browns and Bliars they may not realise it or perhaps they dnt even care but i am left without a political party to represent me now,they are for sure nasty hypocritical men,who have leemings and extreemly biased, in fact very dim people fighting there corner,these are the people who are to blame these are the dizzy biased vote Labour a all cost numb nuts,it aint Jacks fault he just reaps the reward that the goons pass on to him..lol
time.team
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12:06pm Fri 29 Apr 11
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Interesting?
(originally: "**** you, Jack, I'm all right!!" - described the bitter dismay of sailors ("jacks") returning home after wartime in the Navy to find themselves not treated as patriots or heroes, but ignored / sneered at by a selfish, complacent, get-ahead society - phrase was subsequently toned down for acceptable general use.)
Attitude of "every man for himself, survival of the fittest, devil take the hindmost", ... but also, that all the possible advantages (however gained), success (however won) and satisfaction (whatever the cost to others) belong to me first!" Narrow-focus, narrow-gauge pseudo-Darwinian selfishness glorified as a sensible philosophy of society and life.
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STOP PRESS!
A sheep shearing competition is to be held in many locations on Thursday May 5th. Jack Straw has again been appointed chief sheep shearer so all ‘New Labour’ sheep will be more than welcome to attend, weather permitting?
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New Labour - Continuing the old traditional ways that have made Blackburn what it is today!
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PS - Well said Nostradamous, Blackburn. Totally agree!
DFRobert
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3:36pm Fri 29 Apr 11
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I'm just not sure what exactly this man has that is worth uk£30k to a biofuels / sugars / coffee concern. In fact, he is a first-class example of a career politician. Student politics followed by being Barbara Castle's bag-carrier then slipping seamlessly into her shoes as MP. It's possible that he may have used his expensive, tax-funded education to practise at the bar I suppose.
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Maybe it is his incisive legal talent that attracts his new employers. Or maybe it's his address book and access - achieved once again courtesy of public funding.
RAyzer
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5:04pm Sat 30 Apr 11
Major L. Owens. MM. WG
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7:15pm Sat 30 Apr 11
Izanears
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3:56pm Fri 6 May 11
Izanears
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4:01pm Fri 6 May 11
But Mr Straw said: “I have never accepted that argument.
Sorry Jack, but what about the ages old socialist ideal of one man-one job. As ever, like many other things in Socialism it is case of do as I say, not do as I do.
Eileen Dover says...
9:14pm Thu 28 Apr 11