Second jobs and business interests of Bromley's MPs revealed (From News Shopper)

Second jobs and business interests of Bromley's MPs revealed

4:41pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Heloise Wood

RESEARCH shows Bromley’s MPs pocketed nearly £19,000 from gifts in kind and business interests over the last year.

New information on members' financial interests was recently published on parliament.uk detailing their finances.

The website shows Lewisham West and Penge MP Jim Dowd received two tickets and hospitality to the Chelsea Flower Show amounting to £1,188, donated from Japan Tobacco International.

This firm is currently being investigated by the EU anti-fraud office for allegedly shipping cigarettes to a firm linked to the Syrian regime.

Mr Dowd appeared unconcerned about being connected with the company which is reported to have broken EU sanctions.

He told News Shopper: "I don’t know anything about that, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know anything about Syria.

"Large companies like this and Shell and Barclays are being investigated all the time.

"I’ve never had a second job since I’ve become an MP."

Beckenham MP Bob Stewart, is the chairman of a gold mining company.
He received £1,492.97 for preparing and chairing a four hour board meeting for the organisation, Premier Gold Resources PLc.

He also received a ticket from the School of Oriental and African Studies to travel round the West Bank and Israel, costing £1,002.

Orpington MP Jo Johnson received £15,346 from outside work including articles for the Financial Times and gifts in kind such as a trip to Egypt, Delhi and Mumbai.

He also received £5,700 for giving two speeches.

Mr Johnson said: "As we are a trading nation, the government has a big job to do to help British firms penetrate difficult markets and I am delighted to be able to play a small part in that.

"With my background in Asia (I was the Financial Times’ bureau chief in South Asia between 2005-2008), I was delighted, for example, to accept the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s invitation to join his delegation to Delhi this April.

"I’m obviously also glad that media organisations such as the Financial Times turn to me for comment on the big issues of the day."

Finally, Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, is a landlord for a London flat but the amount he receives in rent is not disclosed.

His parliamentary office also said he occasionally receives fees for completing opinion research surveys but he donates this money to the Bromley Mayor's Charity.

MPs receive an annual salary of £65,738.