Sir John Redwood, the Conservative MP for Wokingham, has been accused of being a part-timer for having a second job.
Sir John has been the MP for Wokingham for 36 years, first being elected in 1987.
But he has come under fire for reportedly earning just under £700,000 since the last General Election.
Recently, Sky News published an investigation into MPs second jobs called ‘The Westminster Accounts’.
The investigation found that Sir John has the fifth highest outside earnings of any MP since December 2019.
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Sir John has a second career as the chief global strategist for investment management company Charles Stanley, which has earned him £674,821 since the last general election.
Money from four other income streams brings the total amount Sir John has earned to £692,438, according to the national report.
A clip of the Sky News report shows Sir John declaring he can work more efficiently for Charles Stanley as a result of homeworking and video conferences.
In response, Wokingham Liberal Democrats have accused Sir John of being a part-time MP.
Councillor Clive Jones (Liberal Democrats, Hawkedon), borough council leader and Lib Dem candidate for Wokingham said: “Wokingham deserves better than a part-time MP.
“Local people are facing a cost-of-living crisis whilst ambulance waiting times soar to dangerously high levels.
“Now is the time for our MP to be working around the clock to help people through this difficult time. Instead, he is bragging about spending even more time working for a financial firm.
“John Redwood is taking Wokingham for granted. He is completely out of touch with the problems we face here. He owes local people an apology and should come clean about just how little of his time he spends representing Wokingham in Parliament.
“At the next election, it will be a choice between a part-time Conservative MP, or a local champion who will work tirelessly for Wokingham in Parliament.”
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Sir John hit back, arguing he works ‘seven days a week’ as an MP and criticising the Lib Dem record at Wokingham Borough Council since they took majority control last year.
He said: “I provide a seven day a week service to constituents. Wokingham comes first when allocating my time.
“I provide a daily commentary every day of the year save Christmas Day on matters that worry my constituents and my words and actions to help on www.johnredwood.com and on Twitter @johnredwood.
“The Lib Dems and their allies spent the general election making false claims about the way I do the job as MP, claims most electors rejected.
“This contrasts with an out of touch Lib Dem led council which impedes our travel, worsens our refuse service, fails to tackle over development and puts taxes up in a cost of living crisis.”
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