Geoffrey Cox has broken Commons rules if he used his Westminster office for his second job working for the British Virgin Islands, a Cabinet minister says.
A video has emerged of the Tory MP taking part in a meeting remotely from what appears to be his Commons rooms – triggering a Labour request for an inquiry by the standards commissioner.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, stressed he was not talking about any individual case, but – asked if an MP should use their office for a second job – he replied: “No.”
He added: “Whether it’s your parliamentary office, or any other parliamentary stationery, or anything that’s funded or supported by the taxpayer, of course that should not be used.
“I think the rules on the use of parliamentary property, or your letters or letter heads or stamps or anything like that, I think the rules are clear. And of course, all MPs will be expected to observe that at all times.’
Asked what should happen if an MP has used their office for a second job, Mr Javid told Sky News: “It should be independently judged by the parliamentary standards commissioner.
“If there are particular cases, then I would trust the commissioner to look at that and come to the right decision.”
The comments come after the Cox controversy took a significant twist, after it initially appeared he had not broken any Commons rules – despite working and voting from the Caribbean earlier this year, during lockdown.
A video, uncovered by The Times, shows the former attorney general leaving his office during a September meeting for about 20 minutes, before returning and offering his apologies.
“Forgive my absence during some of the morning, I’m afraid the bell went off,” he says – appearing to refer to the Commons division bell that alerts MPs that it is time to vote.
Sir Geoffrey has failed to respond to the allegation that he carried out outside legal work from his Commons office. He is said to be “abroad” and has not been contacted.
The MPs’ code of conduct states: “Members shall ensure that their use of public resources is always in support of their parliamentary duties. It should not confer any undue personal or financial benefit on themselves.”
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, in a letter to the standards commissioner Kathryn Stone, says breaking the rule must lead to “substantial consequences”.
Meanwhile, the Tory MP Andrew Bowie has quit his post as a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party because he feels unable to publicly defend the government, he has told colleagues.
When in the Caribbean, he voted by proxy, exploiting rules brought in to ensure MPs were not excluded because of being forced to isolate because of Covid.
Just as controversially, he earned more than £150,000 as a lawyer advising the Caribbean tax haven over corruption charges brought by the Foreign Office.
The job contributed to more than £1m in legal fees the QC earned since the start of 2020 – working more than 20 hours a week – on top of his £81,932 salary as an MP.
