Ruth Davidson is facing calls to resign as an MSP after taking a paid job with a lobbying firm.
The former Scottish Conservatives leader has been appointed as a senior adviser to PR firm Tulchan Communications.
She will be paid £50,000 for 25 days’ work a year on top of her MSP salary of £63,579.
Ms Davidson resigned as her party’s leader in August after admitting she was “hopelessly conflicted over Brexit” – in addition to personal changes following the birth of son Finn last year – but still represents Edinburgh Central as an MSP.
Labour, SNP, Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs want Ms Davidson to stand down over the alleged conflict of interest despite a Tory spokesman arguing the role “is well within all parliamentary and industry rules”.
Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay plans to lodge a Member’s Bill in the Scottish Parliament to ban MSPs from having second jobs.
Mr Findlay said: “Ruth Davidson’s actions bring the Scottish Parliament into disrepute.
“Instead of standing up for her constituents in Parliament she will be standing up for the firms that her bosses are paid to lobby for.
“You cannot be a parliamentarian and a highly paid lobbyist at the same time.
“If she wants to continue pocketing tens of thousands of pounds from this lobbying firm she should resign as an MSP.
“The people of Edinburgh deserve an MSP that will represent them, not private corporations.”
So all those MSPs who believe like me that @RuthDavidsonMSP is ripping the system with a £50k job and on top of her MSP salary will you now email me your support for my double jobbing Bill? pic.twitter.com/je59feWdSp
— Neil Findlay MSP (@NeilFindlay_MSP) October 24, 2019
The SNP’s Gordon MacDonald urged Ms Davidson to “decide which day job matters”.
He said: “This is a monumental misjudgment from Ruth Davidson, who simply cannot be allowed to accept cash from a lobbying firm while continuing to sit as an MSP.
“That’s not only a conflict of interest – it’s holding her constituents, and the Scottish Parliament as a whole, in contempt.
“If she isn’t interested in focusing on her role as an MSP she should allow the people of Edinburgh Central to pick a representative who is.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Alison Johnstone backed Mr Findlay’s bid to prevent MSPs having multiple jobs.
She said: “This is clearly a conflict of interests.
“Davidson needs to resign from the corporate body and as an MSP so Edinburgh Central can elect a committed representative.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat Mike Rumbles MSP said Ms Davidson should “step aside”.
He added: “It spells the end for the growth of the Scottish Conservatives now their former leader is walking away for a fat cat job in the City of London.”
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: “Ruth’s business advisory role is well within all parliamentary and industry rules.
“It is far less onerous than the party leadership she held for eight years, and she is able to complete the 16 hours a month it requires while still having more time for her family and constituency.
“Ruth is committed to seeing out her term as the MSP for Edinburgh Central.”
On Wednesday evening, the PR professional body the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) raised concerns about her appointment to the role.
Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, said: “It is simply wrong for lobbying agencies to employ legislators.
“The possible conflict of interest in doing so is clear and damages the reputation of both our industry and of the political process.”
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