Our letter on MPs' Second Jobs

Alberto Costa MP
Chair of the Committee on Standards

3rd April 2026

Dear Alberto Costa MP, 

The public's trust in our politics is already very low, and inaction on restricting MPs’ second jobs is making it worse.

Well over a year ago, the Committee on Standards was asked to look into changing the rules around MPs’ second jobs. The Committee held oral evidence sessions in July, but hasn’t met since. 

In March 2026, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to “the principle that second jobs for MPs should be banned with very limited exceptions”. He said the government is “engaging with the Standards Committee to introduce reforms to this effect.”

Please could you provide an update on the Committee’s work on MPs’ second jobs, and let us know when we can expect proposed changes to the rules to be announced?

I look forward to your response. 

Yours sincerely,

Tom Brake
CEO
Unlock Democracy