Sir Geoffrey Cox could face probe after claims he used Parliament office for second job

10 November 2021, 00:38 | Updated: 10 November 2021, 07:17

An investigation has been demanded into allegations Sir Geoffrey Cox used his Westminster office for his second job.
An investigation has been demanded into allegations Sir Geoffrey Cox used his Westminster office for his second job. Picture: Alamy

By Sophie Barnett

Former Cabinet minister Sir Geoffrey Cox could face an investigation by the Commons standards tsar over claims he "broke the rules" by using his parliamentary office for his second job offering legal advice.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Times reported that the former attorney general, who has faced criticism over his outside earnings, used his Westminster office to participate remotely to advise the British Virgin Islands in a corruption probe launched by the Foreign Office.

Conservative MP and QC Sir Geoffrey has earned hundreds of thousands of pounds for his work with the islands, while allegations have surfaced that he was based in the Caribbean earlier this year while using lockdown proxy voting rules to continue to have his say in the Commons.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the alleged use of the office appeared to be "an egregious, brazen breach of the rules" and has written to standards commissioner Kathryn Stone asking her for "guidance on beginning a formal investigation on this matter".

Read more: 'It's outrageous': Geoffrey Cox constituents criticise MP for £1m second job

Read more: Met Police 'considering' call to investigate 'cash for honours' Tory scandal

Constituents react to Geoffrey Cox second job

Ms Rayner said in her letter that the MP's code of conduct was "very clear" that elected representatives ensure that "any facilities and services provided from the public purse is... always in support of their parliamentary duties" and "should not confer any... financial benefit on themselves".

She added: "The member has clearly broken this rule based on the media reports we have seen.

"Members must be clear that they cannot use the estate for private financial gain and where there is such a stark conflict with public interest, they must face substantial consequences."

Sir Geoffrey's office has been contacted for comment regarding the allegations.

The most recent register of financial interests showed that the Torridge and West Devon MP will earn more than £800,000 from Withers, an international law firm appointed by the British Virgin Islands (BVI) government in January.  

Sir Geoffrey also disclosed in the register that from September 28 this year until further notice, he will be paid £400,000 a year by Withers for up to 41 hours of work per month.  

Read more: Tory sleaze and corruption inquiry proposed amid Owen Paterson saga

Read more: Starmer labels Paterson sleaze scandal as 'government corruption'

In the British Virgin Islands commission of inquiry hearing on September 14, Sir Geoffrey can be heard in the online recording telling the commissioner: "Forgive my absence during some of the morning - I'm afraid the bell went off."  

It has been reported that the bell referred to could be the division bell that sounds off across the parliament estate to alert MPs to a vote taking place.

Earlier in the proceedings, Sir Geoffrey appears to vacate his seat for about 20 minutes at around the two-hour mark in the video footage.  

His Commons voting record shows that he voted in person on six occasions on September 14 to push through the Government's health and social care levy.  

Ms Rayner said: "This appears to be an egregious, brazen breach of the rules.

"A Conservative MP using a taxpayer funded office in Parliament to work for a tax haven facing allegations of corruption is a slap in the face and an insult to British taxpayers.

"The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards must investigate this, and the Prime Minister needs to explain why he has an MP in his parliamentary party that treats Parliament like a co-working space allowing him to get on with all of his other jobs instead of representing his constituents.

"You can be an MP serving your constituents or a barrister working for a tax haven - you can't be both and Boris Johnson needs to make his mind up as to which one Geoffrey Cox will be."

Boris Johnson, who was previously well paid as a backbencher, including for his regular Daily Telegraph column, signalled that those in the Commons should focus on their electorates.  

The Prime Minister's comments about second jobs come in the wake of a recommendation that former environment secretary Owen Paterson's should be suspended for six weeks after the Commons Standards Committee found he had broken the centuries-old ban on paid lobbying by MPs.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister, while refusing to be drawn on individual cases, said Mr Johnson thought an "MP's primary job is and must be to serve their constituents and to represent their interests in Parliament".  

The No 10 spokesman said: "They should be visible in their constituencies and available to help constituents with their constituency matters.  

"If they're not doing that, they're not doing their job and will rightly be judged on that by their constituents."  

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A group picture of all the researchers – from various science projects -- at the South African research station, SANAE IV, Antar

'Real-life horror movie playing out' as trapped scientists plead for rescue after ‘assault’ at remote Antarctic base

Commuters walk across London Bridge in London

Quarter of Gen Zs consider quitting work as young Brits cite mental health as key reason to go unemployed

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to slash benefits spending

Labour benefits rift deepens as plans to slash welfare bill to be 'watered down' amid fears of backbench revolt

Alexandra Clarke, 26

Brit holidaymaker missing after boat bursts into flames on dive trip off coast of Thailand's 'death island'

Danny Jones and Georgia Horsley

Danny Jones’ ‘hurt & embarrassed’ wife Georgia moves out of family home after his 'drunken kiss' with Maura Higgins

US President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House

Trump to hold talks with Putin on Tuesday as White House pushes for end to Ukraine war

Technology firms must tackle illegal content on their platforms under new rules, but there are concerns that the changes are too weak.

New Ofcom powers for online safety come into force as charities warn of 'major gaps' in legislation

The rebels on Sunday claimed to have targeted the USS Harry S Truman carrier strike group with missiles and a drone.

US fights off Houthi drone attacks on aircraft carrier after Trump ramps up strikes on Yemen

Jack Draper of Great Britain celebrates after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark to win the Men's Singles Final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2025

Britain’s Jack Draper wins Indian Wells Open after beating Holger Rune in biggest title of his career

A firefighter inspects a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

20 arrested including government officials after 59 killed in North Macedonia night club fire

Alton Towers' latest attraction, Toxicator, was forced to close on its opening day after a burst pipe caused a leak of brown liquid.

‘Nightmare day’ - New Alton Towers attraction ‘Toxicator’ forced to close on opening day after burst pipe

People sit on deckchairs on brown-coloured dry grass, in the sunshine in Hyde Park in central London

Parts of UK to be hotter than Ibiza and Corfu next week as first day of spring looms

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring the second goal during the Carabao Cup Final match between Liverpool vs Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium, London.

Newcastle crowned Carabao Cup winners, taking home first major trophy in 70 years

Kanye West, left, and Kim Kardashian attend the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Nov. 6, 2019, in New York.

‘You’re going to have to kill me’ - Kanye leaks chilling texts with Kim after involving daughter in Diddy scandal

Pilot Mike Beaton was sacked for snorting cocaine off a passengers breasts in 2023.

British Airways pilot back in the skies after snorting drugs off woman's breasts before flight

Iran has denied backing Yemen's Houthis after the US launched airstrikes in the country's capital and Donald Trump promised to 'hold Iran accountable' for allegedly supporting the rebels.

Iran denies aiding Houthi rebels after US strikes Yemen and Trump threatens to hold Tehran 'fully accountable'