A NEW call for tighter rules on MPs paid outside of work has been described as ‘probably unnecessary’ by East Lancashire parliamentarians Jack Straw and Andrew Stephenson.

The recommendation has been made by global anti-corruption movement Transparency International.

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In a report on lobbying, it says that improvements on the control of paid lobbying by MPs do not go far enough.

It highlights the question of advisory work by members of the House of Commons and calls for a much tighter system close to an outright ban.

Former Blackburn MP Mr Straw – last week cleared of breaking Westminster rules after a media ‘sting’ – and Pendle Tory MP Mr Stephenson said they felt the current system was stringent enough in practice.

But they accepted further clarification of the rules might be of benefit, especially in terms of public perception.

Pendle peer Tony Greaves backed the recommendation in report ‘Accountable Influence: Bringing Lobbying out of the Shadows’ published yesterday.

It recommends: “As is the case for members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, MPs be prohibited from undertaking any paid advisory work relating to the affairs of Parliament.”

Mr Straw was cleared of breaching the rules on paid lobbying by the Parliamentary Standards watchdog after a Channel 4 documentary secretly filmed him meeting reporters claiming to represent a Hong Kong-based communications agency called PMR which was seeking to hire senior British politicians to join its advisory board.

Labour’s Mr Straw boasted of operating ‘under the radar’ to use his influence to change European Union rules on behalf of a commodity firm which paid him £60,000 a year.

He was shown apparently offering his services for £5,000 a day.

Mr Stephenson, who has no outside interests, said: “I think there may be a case for clarifying the rules.

“The public are very concerned about MPs misusing the system in terms of lobbying.

“In practice, I suspect the current rules are stringent enough.”

Mr Straw, who retired as Blackburn MP in May, said: “In practice, I suspect the current rules on paid advocacy are as stringent as the recommendation in this report.

“But there is always a case for clarifying the rules so people understand them.”

Liberal Democrat Lord Greaves said: “MPs should not be paid in a private capacity to advise a business on anything that might come before them in Parliament.”