The second jobs issue points to a wider problem of insufficient transparency and flagrant conflicts of interest
If Boris Johnson had not ordered his MPs to offer a reprieve to Owen Paterson, the former member for North Shropshire would probably still be a parliamentarian while serving out an uneventful suspension from the House of Commons. Politics might have moved on to other issues. Instead, Westminster is mired deep in debate over lobbying and MPs’ second jobs.
Mr Johnson sounded contrite before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, or rather appeared sincerely to regret starting a process that is running beyond his control. In a bid to seize the initiative, Downing Street has proposed new rules that would curtail MPs’ activities outside parliament.
