IAN Blackford has been called on to “ditch his second jobs” by Scottish Labour after he made clear that he would not give up his outside interests now that he is leader of the SNP at Westminster.
The Scottish Conservatives were also critical, accusing the SNP of “staggering hypocrisy” given it had repeatedly attacked parliamentarians over pursuing extra-parliamentary interests.
Mr Blackford, in an interview with The Herald, insisted his outside activities, which earn him almost £50,000 a year on top of his £75,000 MP’s salary, were not a distraction from his parliamentary work and took up very little of his time.
Stressing he would continue to be a hard-working parliamentarian, the Highland MP said: “I do think there is a benefit from MPs having experience of life. The fact that I have had interests in business are something, which have helped shape my ability to make sure I can deliver as an MP.”
He made clear his priority was, firstly, to represent his constituency and, secondly, the SNP at Westminster as Group leader and “I work extremely hard to ensure that I deliver on both of those priorities”.
But Labour’s Martin Whitfield has written to the SNP leader, urging him to ditch his "second jobs".
The East Lothian MP said he was “baffled” that Mr Blackford could possibly consider continuing with his outside business interests and do his MP’s job to the fullest of his ability, particularly now he was SNP Group leader.
He added: “As many of your colleagues have said on the record, I do not believe you can fully dedicate yourself to that important role while also serving other interests. I would, therefore, urge you to immediately drop your outside business interests and focus wholly on your work in the House of Commons.”
Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Conservative Shadow Finance Secretary, commented: “This is staggering hypocrisy from the SNP.
“It has repeatedly attacked parliamentarians over pursuing other interests, yet its own Westminster leader is earning over £50,000 a year from other jobs. This shows that in the eyes of the Nationalists, it is one rule for them and another for everyone else.”
According to the most recent entry in the MPs’ Register of Interests Mr Blackford, a former investment banker, has two paid chairmanships, which together bring in £48,000 a year.
His entry also includes unpaid work as a director of an Edinburgh-based crofting business – he has a croft on Skye - and a not-for-profit financial research think-tank.
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