THE Borders’ Westminster representatives have had their say as the row over whether MPs should be allowed second jobs continues.

Labour will vote tomorrow (November 17) on banning MPs from taking paid directorships or consultancies in a bid Sir Keir Starmer says would help to end “dodgy lobbying”.

It comes after then-North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, of the Conservatives, was found by the Commons Standards Committee to have used his position to benefit two companies who paid him as a consultant.

Mr Paterson said his integrity had been “repeatedly and publicly questioned”, and claimed he was “totally innocent” of breaking lobbying rules.

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On the issue of second jobs, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont said: “Having been a Borders MSP and then MP for almost 15 years now, I know that my job takes up almost the entirety of my time.

“My priority is helping constituents and representing them in Parliament.”

The Conservative representative added: “Splitting my week between my home in Coldstream and Westminster leaves little time for anything else.”

Earlier this month, Mr Lamont and fellow Borders representative David Mundell, also of the Conservatives, voted in favour of changing the way MPs are policed – pausing Mr Paterson’s suspension for breaking lobbying rules.

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This was met with outrage from opposition parties, forcing a government U-turn.

When asked about MPs having second jobs, Mr Mundell – representative of Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale – said: “Over my 20 years as a Member of Parliament, I have always taken the view that this is a full-time job, and that is why I have never had a second job or had any other paid outside interest.”

MPs are currently allowed second jobs as long as they are not a minister.