The UK’s Labour Government has been accused by former arch-Brexiteer and now MP Nigel Farage of trying to bully him and a colleague and silence TV and radio outlet GB News following moves to crack down on MPs holding second jobs.
A newly-formed Commons Modernisation Committee has been looking to probe media appearances by politicians as part of a wider investigation into conflicts of interest in attempting to increase levels of public trust. The government has already banned MPs from being paid for second jobs that involve providing advice on policy or the workings of the UK parliament.
Farage claimed to Brussels Signal on September 13 he had been targeted by the Labour administration.
“This new move by Labour would affect me and [fellow MP] Lee Anderson,” he said.
“If they think they can bully us both, they’ve picked on the wrong people. I invite them to have a go!”
The Reform UK party leader presents a flagship programme for GB News and has reported earnings from that of around £98,000 for 32 hours of work a week in the latest Register of Members’ Financial Interests, published by parliament.
Anderson, a fellow Reform UK and GB News colleague, reported annual earnings of £100,000 from the broadcaster for eight hours of work a week as a host of Lee Anderson’s Real World on the channel.
Farage added: “This is also aimed at GB News, it’s not even about second jobs, it’s all about the media.”
The Brexit champion told viewers of his GB News show on September 12 that he and former Tory deputy chairman Anderson would not be harassed into leaving their jobs. He accused Leader of the Commons Lucy Powell, who is spearheading the move, of “launching an all-out assault on myself and Lee Anderson”.
In announcing the new committee, which Powell will chair, the government statement said: “The Committee will explore ways to drive up standards, examining whether paid outside engagements such as MP media appearances, journalism and speeches provide a benefit to the public or present a conflict of interest.”
Farage hit back saying: “I don’t see any conflicts of interest whatsoever.”
“In fact,” he said, “I might make an argument that’s slightly different, that I’m here with a panel of people. some agree with me, some disagree with me. We have an open debate.
“I’d like to think that through programmes like this (his ‘Farage’ show on GB News), what we actually do is take what’s really happening in politics and bring it to a bigger audience. So think it’s complementary.
“I’m not going anywhere!” he insisted.
