Thread by @BestForBritain

Transparency is key to a functioning democracy.

Transparency allows us to hold our elected representatives to account for their actions.

It enables scrutiny.

It prevents those we have put in power from using that power in a way that undermines the interests of the people. 1/

In the interests of transparency, here are some of the more egregious examples of MPs' outside interests being reflected in their actions in Parliament.

For context, 50 Conservative MPs have earned £1.7m in consultancy fees this year alone. 2/
labourlist.org/2021/11/50-tor…

We have to start with the name on everyone's lips - Geoffrey Cox - who earned a fortune providing legal advice to the British Virgin Islands over allegations of corruption. Some of which he did from his taxpayer-funded parliamentary office. 3/
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1…

Tireless defender of tax havens Geoffrey Cox works an average of 30hrs a week on his second job.

Instead of representing his constituents, he pockets thousands from his legal work and then speaks in the Commons against imposing stricter regulations. 4/
theguardian.com/politics/2021/…

Also on the list we have Daniel Kawczynski, who's been paid a quarter of a million pounds to advise an international mining company while serving as Boris Johnson's trade envoy to Mongolia - where 90% of exports are minerals from mining. 5/
thetimes.co.uk/article/daniel…

Taking £24,000 from the Betting and Gambling Council a year is Laurence Robertson, who then later spoke against gambling reforms in Parliament. 6/ thetimes.co.uk/article/lauren…

And Tory Defence Minister Philip Dunne has been paid £51K by aerospace company Reaction Engines last year, while consistently asking questions in parliament demanding more defence spending. 7/
thetimes.co.uk/article/philip…

These are just a few examples of how MPs' outside interests have impacted their representations in Parliament, but in total there are 90 Conservative MPs with outside interests earning a combined £4 million each year. 8/
thelondoneconomic.com/politics/90-co…

And since the pandemic began, MPs' second jobs have earned them a combined £6 million. 9/ opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-…

One beneficiary of pandemic earnings is Alun Cairns, who took a second job at diagnostics firm BBI Group weeks before it was part of a consortium that secured a £75 million government contract for lateral flow tests. 10/
thetimes.co.uk/article/ex-min…

One former minister told @BylinesTimes that the PM has “opened up a Pandora’s Box” on the issue of MPs' second jobs. 11/
bylinetimes.com/2021/11/10/con…

Only the most rose-tinted of spectacle-wearers would think that for many MPs, representing constituents is their sole focus. But the very clear link between outside interests and how MPs choose to use their time in Parliament is damaging to democracy. 12/
bestforbritain.org/pyrotechnics_a…

Corruption and sleaze cannot distract us from the other very real harm this government is doing to our democratic freedoms through legislation. We won't stop pushing for transparency, accountability and scrutinising such actions. /ENDS
bestforbritain.org/betterdemocracy