WORCESTER’S MP is quitting his other job as a financial media consultant – but says it never got in the way of his role as a member of parliament.

Robin Walker will not be renewing his contract with Finsbury for the new financial year, he exclusively told the Worcester News.

In the year to February 2012, he earned £30,000 as a financial media consultant – £566 for each of the 53 hours he offered client advice.

Mr Walker said he was not quitting the job because it took time away from his constituents, but because he could no longer find time to meet face-to-face with clients.

Mr Walker said having a job outside being an MP should be encouraged as long as it did not pose a prejudicial interest to parliamentary work – and so long as MPs did not use their status to sell their other employment.

“When I first agreed to do the work two years ago, I thought I would still have the time to do it,” he said.

“With the 24-hour news agenda, being an MP is much more than a full-time job.

"It was a client-facing business and if you can’t do that then there isn’t much reason for me to continue.”

Mr Walker had not been claiming for a second home allowance – available to MPs whose main home is outside London – while he had a second income, but said he may now have to.

Mr Walker, who said he decided to quit some time ago, said he worked for Finsbury for several years before he started campaigning to be an MP.

MPs earn a basic salary of £65,738 but are allowed to claim allowances and expenses for items such as second homes in London.

Joy Squires, Labour’s would-be Worcester MP, said: “We need to restore confidence in politicians. One way to do that would be for all MPs to treat being an MP as a full-time job.

“The argument is sometimes put that a job outside Parliament is a good way of keeping in touch with what’s going on in the world.

"There are plenty of ways to do that without having a second job.

“People can be left with the impression that politicians of all parties are in politics for the wrong reasons.”

Other donations are also listed and can be viewed at the Houses of Parliament website.