The cash Cumbria’s MPs earn outside their £74,000 a year Parliamentary day jobs has been revealed, with the county’s Conservatives easily outstripping their rivals.

The highest earner last year was Penrith and the Border’s Rory Stewart, whose various book royalties brought him just under £102,000. The next best paid outside Parliament was Carlisle’s John Stevenson.

His total extra earnings were £38,000.

That was made up of a rental property portfolio which brought in more than £10,000 a year; with the remainder coming from legal work he does for the Carlisle law firm Bendles, where he is a partner.

His law firm work takes up between 10 and 45 hours a month, he says.

In stark contrast, the county’s other MPs earned modest sums outside their work representing constituents.

Liberal Democrat Tim Farron, who represents South Lakeland, was paid £1,500 for an appearance as a panelist last October on the satirical TV show Have I Got News for You. More notably, he accepted private donations of £40,000.

Critics say no UK MP should be allowed to have a part-time job while serving as a full-time Parliamentarian, while others say such work helps keep politicians connected to the world of work outside politics.


John Stevenson In earlier interviews, Mr Stevenson defended his law firm work. He said: “Having involvement outside politics is healthy, as is living in the city I represent. I am very much aware of the issues that people face.”

But Eric Martlew, who represented the city as a Labour MP until 2010, said: “Being an MP is a full-time job. If he wasn’t doing work as a partner for his law firm he could give more time to his work as an MP.”

Craig Johnston, from the RMT rail union, said: “When you hear about MPs making that kind of money it explains why they are so out of touch with the reality of every day lif.

“People will find the kind of extra money they earn breathtaking.”

Rory Stewart’s outside earnings emanate from his work as an author. He has published several highly successful books, including The Marches: A Borderland Journey Between England and Scotland, recently named Lakeland Book of the Year.

The financial interests of the county’s other MPs related mostly to donations.

Copeland Conservative MP Trudy Harrison received modest donations from Hansa Capital Partners, The Knole Club, and North Cumbria Conservatives Patrons Club; and a private donation from William Saloman.

Workington’s Sue Hayman got £10,000 from the GMB union while Barrow’s John Woodcock also accepted money from the same union, and expenses of about £3,000 for a visit to China.


MPs’ financial interests are available at https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/contents1719.htm