MPs could face crackdown on holding paid media roles

Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson could be at risk of losing their presenting roles at GB News if certain reforms are introduced by anew parliamentary body set up to restore trust in politics.

- ANDY GREGORY

In its election manifesto, the Labour Party committed to establishing a modernisation committee of crossparty MPs tasked with reforming House of Commons procedures and driving up standards.

Following the newly formed committee’s first meeting this week, chair Lucy Powell – who also serves as Commons leader – yesterday set out the body’s key priorities, which include addressing “cultural issues of bullying and harassment” and giving MPs more opportunity to scrutinise government legislation.

In the first of its suggested initial priorities, Ms Powell said MPs would scrutinise whether paid media appearances offer any value to the public. The committee should particularly focus on considering “what advantages, if any, outside paid engagements such as media appearances, journalism and speeches furnish to the public, versus the potential conflicts of interest and attention that arise from such paid endeavours”, Ms Powell said.