MPs keep mind on the job at hand

From the archive, first published Monday 16th Apr 2007.

While many MPs are raking up income from extra-curriculum activities - Bradford MPs appear to be keeping their mind on the job in hand.

The Commons Register of Members' Interests, published on Monday, revealed many MPs were profiting from thousands of pounds for being paid directors of private companies.

There is nothing in the Parliamentary rule book forbidding such extra-curricular activities.

But the list of Bradford's five MPs declarations are nothing to write home about.

Shipley MP Philip Davies only declared he was given a ticket to Cheltenham Festival races as a guest of Channel 4. And Keighley MP Ann Cryer jetted off to Californian University to speak to about human rights - paid for by the university.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, Bradford North MP Terry Rooney and Bradford West MP Marsha Singh made no declarations.

However, Tory Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry pockets up to £5,000 for a column in the Yorkshire Post, and a similar amount for writing in the Local Government Chronicle.In addition he earns between £35,001 and £40,000 for being chairman of Dairy UK.