Dr Rosena Allin-Khan says she would volunteer at St George's if MPs are banned from second jobs

By Tommy Joyce

12th Nov 2021 | Local News

Tooting's MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan has claimed she would volunteer to work at St George's if second jobs were banned for MPs.

Following criticism of Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox for raking in almost £900,000 over the last year as a barrister, there have been calls to put an end to MPs being allowed second jobs.

Within a column for inews, Dr Rosena said that if this was the case, it would not stop her from putting on her scrubs - even if it was for free.

She says that it's "unacceptable" that some MPs use their role as a "cash cow" for ventures, but that there's a big difference between working on the frontline for the NHS and lining your pockets in the private sector.

"When I first stood to be MP for Tooting, I remember one question I was asked at a hustings particularly vividly. 'Will you stop being a doctor if you become an MP?' the questioner asked. I didn't have to think twice about my answer: 'No, I will always be a doctor first and foremost, but it won't ever interfere with my work as your MP.' I wasn't expecting the rapturous applause which followed," She said.

"Ever since, as a three year old child, I found out my beloved grandma had gone blind, being a doctor was my dream job.

"I love representing Tooting and, at the same time, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to be able to act as an advocate for the NHS and its staff in Parliament.

"I've been honest in every single one of my election campaigns, promising to continue working on the NHS front line if re-elected as the local MP. I wonder if, during their own re-election campaigns, Owen Paterson pledged to rake in £100,000 from Randox, or Geoffrey Cox promised to escape to a tropical tax haven and trouser hundreds of thousands of pounds for his legal advice? I doubt it."

Dr Rosena sees her role as a doctor as more than just a way to make money, it's part of her fabric. And it's for this reason she wouldn't stop, even without financial reward.

She said: "Working on the NHS front line isn't a job, it's a vocation. It's who I am. If I'm no longer able to work paid shifts, I'll find a way to volunteer again.

"It's unacceptable that some MPs look at their parliamentary role as a cash cow for other ventures – there's a world of difference between working on our NHS front line and lining your pockets in the private sector. The question for me is, what are you working for: the public good, or private gain?

"If we have to ban MPs from having second jobs to stamp out this corruption, then so be it.

"I'll always continue to roll up my sleeves and stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues on the front line of our NHS, paid or not."

Dr Allin-Khan has recently urged businesses to sign up to her 'safe space' campaign within Tooting and the surrounding area.

The idea is that these businesses will offer a space that women and girls can go into if they feel unsafe outside to call the police or charge their phones. Read more about it here.

Have a story in Tooting you'd like to share? Get in touch! Email [email protected], call 07557513104 or tweet @TommyJJourno [I]

[I] Find all the latest news from Tooting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     

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