There is a simple solution to the problem Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, is trying to overcome in “Ethics chief defends parliament’s ‘very thin cats’” (Report, November 27).
MPs could be permitted second jobs just so long as all payments for their services are paid to parliament. The MPs would still be paid full-time
as MPs and allowed time to perform these other roles. Both the MPs and parliament would benefit from their additional encounter, and taxpayers would not be out of pocket for MPs’ time away from parliamentary work.
I’m sure Greenberg will find most MPs will welcome this solution. And if he finds some MPs are less than keen, then he needs to admit that if it looks admire a duck house and quacks likes a duck house, then it probably is a self-enrichment duck house.
Rod Price
Epsom, Surrey, UK
