Bristol Live readers have welcomed the recent alterations to Labour’s rules concerning MPs having second jobs and how this could impact Dan Norris, the West of England metro mayor and sitting MP. The party’s annual conference saw delegates approve an extension of the ban on councillors retaining local government roles if they’re elected to Parliament, to include other office holders such as mayors.
This move will bar Mr Norris from seeking re-election as metro mayor following his election as an MP.
Mr Norris, who triumphed over Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg in the July election, faced backlash for juggling both roles simultaneously. He had previously stated his intention to continue in both positions until at least May 2025, sparking concerns about drawing two salaries for what are supposed to be full-time roles.
The resolution was met with overwhelming approval at the conference, signalling a firm stance against MPs holding down second jobs.
The Labour Party’s dedication to MPs devoting their attention solely to their parliamentary duties prompted these rule changes, bringing mayors into line with leaders and councillors within the party’s rulebook. This step is designed to ensure that elected representatives commit their time and energy to serving their constituents, free from the distractions of additional roles.
The process to select a new Labour candidate for the forthcoming Weca elections is set to begin soon, signalling a potential shift in the region’s political landscape. The impact of these rule changes on Dan Norris’s future roles remains unclear, with questions over whether he will need to step down as WECA mayor before his term concludes.
Commentator HanhamHeights believes: “This is good, he should not have stood against Rees-Mogg, there were much better candidates in the local party that were overlooked. It almost felt personal, as if Dan wanted to get back at Mogg for losing his seat to him in 2010.”
Thecookedsock adds: “Great to see Labour delivering on a manifesto commitment and achieving more in 2 months than the incompetent Tory Government didn’t achieve in 14 years.”
Bbc says: “MPs back Labour plan to tighten outside job rules. Given the support from Tory voters for this, which will confuse and upset them, you can see why the Labour party got such a majority, when the public did their duty.”
Junius1 says: “The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, which prevents sitting councillors in a unitary authority from standing as metro-mayor for the corresponding combined authority, should have been updated to prevent a sitting metro-mayor from standing as a Parliamentary candidate for a constituency within that combined authority. This would have closed the loophole Norris used to hold both offices. Labour, given its new position against MPs having two jobs, should update the legislation and close the loophole.”
Gazzer19 comments: “This is good news as he’s caused nothing but issues with these scooters and bikes as it was his idea and he said there would be proper scooter and bike bays and marked ones but constant issues people dumping them anywhere at all and the app is allowing them to end there ride anywhere at all.”
Over on the Bristol Live’s Facebook page, two of our readers said this: Tony House writes: “Nothing against DN personally, but no MP should be allowed a second job whatever their political colour.”
Ben Chivers adds: “This is the MP I have emailed 4 times but is far too busy to reply to his constituents because he’s trying to do 2 jobs at once!”
So are you glad that the Labour government are taking this stance on MPs holding second jobs? Let us know in the comments below or HERE.