I have never been one but I can imagine that being an MP is a hard job. You will be bombarded on a daily basis by people who want you to pick up their pet cause or want to tell you what a rubbish job you are doing and that their grandmother could do better. All the time many of your constituents will hate you, while some will admire you and a lot won’t care. There will be a constant drain on your time.
When I worked in the local authorities I had to sign a document to say that this would be my only role. I was expected to commit all of my working time to the task in hand as it was deemed significantly important enough to warrant such a restriction.
As the head of a department, I had quite a lot on my plate but no more than a MP. I ask then, how come that some MPs have second or even third jobs? Surely this means that either they are not devoting their full attention to the important task of representing their constituency or they are being remunerated for nothing.
I have written before that a MPs primary responsibility is to act in the national interest. They must also act in the interests of their constituents where this does not override their primary responsibility. Finally, if they belong to a political party, they may act in the interests of that party, subordinate to the other two responsibilities.
By having a second job they cannot be living up to their primary or secondary responsibilities. They are part time politicians but what is perhaps more worrying is that by having a second job it is impossible for them to separate themselves from undue influence. Nobody can. It is impossible to be paid and not feel obligated to your financier.
MPs have an important job to do. They should commit all their time to doing it and not be allowed to be remunerated in other ways during their time in office.
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 