Dozens of MPs earn more than double the national living wage on top of their £81,932 salary through work done outside of Parliament, often by acting as consultants to businesses. According to the latest MPs register of financial interests, as of 12 October, nine of the 10 MPs who will earn the most money outside of parliament in 2020 are Conservatives. Here are the highest earners.
7. Nadine Dorries - Conservative - £96,600
Nadine Dorries will most likely be parliament’s highest earning author this year, having so far earned almost £100k on top of her MP salary for an approximate 12 hours per week commitment. The MP for Mid Bedfordshire, who originally hails from Liverpool where a number of her novels are set, netted more than £90k through contractual payments, and £5,000 so far from royalties. (Official Parliamentary portrait) Photo: (Official Parliamentary portrait)
8. Bill Wiggin - Conservative - £91,659.75
North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin earns £4000 per meeting to attend four meetings a year as a non-executive director of Allpay Limited, a payment collection firm. But the bulk of his almost £100k extra earnings per year come from his role as managing director of Emerging Asset Management Ltd, a firm registered in Bermuda which deals with two funds in the Cayman islands and two in Bermuda. (Official Parliamentary portrait) Photo: (Official Parliamentary portrait)
9. David Davis - Conservative - £85,108
Former Brexit Secretary and onetime leadership candidate David Davis MP earns just over the amount of his MP salary again through advisory roles with JCB, and investment and real estate companies based in Germany. The MP for Howden and Haltemprice has also earned £4260 which was donated directly to an unnamed charity, through writing for newspapers including The Sun and Daily Mail. (Official Parliamentary portrait) Photo: (Official Parliamentary portrait)
10. Ed Davey - Liberal Democrat - £78,000
The Liberal Democrat leader will earn just under £80k by the end of the year, at least, through work in the energy and renewables sector, and as a “consultant on political issues and policy analysis” for Herbert Smith Freehills, an international law firm. According to his register of interests entry, “all earnings” from work outside parliament “will be used to benefit [Davey’s] disabled son.” (Official Parliamentary portrait) Photo: (Official Parliamentary portrait)