Tory candidate denies ‘part-time MP’ claims

Robin Walker has defended plans to carry on doing up to 10 hours work a month for Finsbury Ltd if he wins the Worcester seat in the general election.

Mr Walker said maintaining his job would mean he would not have to claim expenses on his second home – he has just put an offer in on a flat in London to complement the flat he already owns in Worcester – but that he could not rule out never making any claims in the future.

Mr Walker said: “I think most people in Worcester would appreciate that they have got an MP who doesn’t want to waste taxpayers’ money. I think that is an important part to this.”

Mr Walker said it was not unusual for MPs to have other jobs and that he thought politicians who had ministerial or whip duties would end up doing more than his agreed 10 hours work on non-constituency matters. Mr Walker said he would carry out his part-time job, which involves him providing financial communications and investor relations advice to chairmen, chief executives and financial directors of a number of engineering, mining, metals and construction companies, largely over the phone and by conference calls.

He said there might be ocassions when he would have to work a day in an office but reiterated that he would not do more than the agreed 10 hours a month.

“I think it’s a good deal for voters in Worcester and I think it’s a worthwhile thing to do,” said Mr Walker.

“David Cameron has said, and I agree with him, that back-bench MPs effectively can have outside interests.

“Clearly, I don’t want to do anything which would mean I couldn’t work hard for Worcester, which is why I have made sure there’s a cap of 10 hours a month.

“It is something I am comfortable with. If there was any danger there would be a conflict of interest then I would have to give it up.”