Chris Grayling to be paid £100,000 to advise ports on top of MPs' salary

Former minister Chris Grayling is being paid £100,000 to “advise” a port operator part-time on top of his MPs’ salary, it has been revealed.

The Conservative MP, who famously cost the taxpayers tens of millions of pounds by bungling a Brexit ferry contract, is working for Hutchison Ports, which runs the Harwich and Felixtowe terminals.

The new role, which he will be paid on top of his MPs’ salary of £82,000, was revealed in the latest MPs’ register of financial interests.

Mr Grayling will be paid the £100,000 for just seven hours’ work a week; the new job was approved by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), a watchdog that is supposed to police public appointments.

The committee said Mr Grayling, who in office was dubbed ‘failing Grayling’ by his critics because of his track record, had reassured them he would not advise the company in areas that could give them an unfair commercial advantage.

More generally, the appointment of former ministers to commercial roles has raised eyebrows about the “revolving door” between government and the private sector. Some suspect former ministers are not brought on by companies for the quality of their advice as much as their access to government.

Acoba said as a precaution the former transport secretary would be banned from lobbying ministers or giving the company advice on UK government tenders until July next year, after which he can do so without restriction.

Mr Grayling left his role as transport secretary with Boris Johnson became prime minister in July 2019, so the 2021 date would represent two years since he left the cabinet, after which former ministers are largely unrestricted in what work they can do.

MPs are allowed to take second jobs, but former members of the government must seek advice from the watchdog if they want to take a job two years after leaving their government roles. 

As transport secretary Mr Grayling cost the taxpayer £85 million after signing a “rushed and risky” contract with a ferry operator as part of no-deal Brexit contingency planning.