Today, Labour has tabled two motions to Parliament, one tightening the rules on outside employment for MPs, and another setting up a Modernisation Committee.

The misconduct and sleaze we’ve seen under the Tories has damaged trust in politics and had a direct impact on the previous Conservative government’s ability to deliver for people.

Our Labour Government was elected with a mandate for change, on a manifesto which promised to put politics back into the service of people.

Labour’s manifesto promised to act on second jobs, and today’s motion delivers on that promise. The Government is taking a major step to bring politics back to public service, acting immediately to prohibit MPs ability to take up paid advocacy roles relating to their parliamentary responsibilities.

This is a first step to deliver the change people have voted for, and the Government will today also set up a House Modernisation Committee that will drive forward our agenda in Parliament to raise standards, rebuild trust and accountability, do government and legislation better and to improve culture and working practices.

One of the first tasks for the committee will be to look at what further action is needed on second jobs. The first priority of Members should be serving their constituents. We will not just tackle conflicts of interests, but also conflicts of attention.

Second jobs

• Under current arrangements, MPs must not provide, or agree to provide, paid parliamentary advice. Nor can they undertake services as a parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant.
• However, some exemptions to the rules present major loopholes, which could enable MPs to use their positions and knowledge for personal gain. These exemptions mean that advice on public policy and current affairs, and advice in general terms about how Parliament works, are not considered parliamentary advice.
• The motion puts an end to these exemptions and reinforces that an MP’s first priority is to their constituents and to the country first.
• Members will have three months to adjust their arrangements before the rules come into force.
• This change will not prevent MPs from raising public awareness and advising on how Parliament works, which is an important and legitimate part of parliamentary life, they just can’t do that for pay.
• These steps were taken in consultation with the Standards Commissioner.
• This motion is the first step of Labour’s action on second jobs. As part of its initial work, the Modernisation Committee will look further into the issue, to consider whether any more changes to the Rules, or the Code of Conduct itself, are necessary, to ensure that MPs primary focus is on serving their constituents, without any conflict of interest or a conflict of attention.

Modernisation Committee

• Setting up a Modernisation Committee was another Labour manifesto commitment which the Government is delivering on in our first few weeks.
• The cost of the last Conservative Government chaos can be counted in the number of hours their zombie Parliament wasted, the damage they did to our democracy with bad government and falling standards in public life undermining a politics of service. Their Conservatives’ approach to law-making was a shambles, with unworkable policies, and bad Bills the hallmark of a weak Prime Minister who was unable to get his legislation through, with the last Parliament setting records for all the wrong reasons.
• Labour is determined to turn the page, respect Parliament and put politics back to public service.
• The Committee, which will work across the House, will be tasked with driving up standards and addressing the culture within Parliament, as well as improving working practices going forwards.
• It will look at reforms to make Parliament more effective, with the aim of considering whether any more changes to the Rules, or the Code of Conduct itself, are necessary.