It has long been clear that the shadow Cabinet’s second jobs are a vulnerability just waiting to be exploited. Today’s Evening Standard brings an example of this:
“THE TORY shadow cabinet has been raking in thousands of pounds in cash and perks from failing banks.
Three prominent shadow cabinet members–William Hague, Ken Clarke and Francis Maude–who have supported criticism of ‘irresponsible’ bankers, were paid large sums in the past year by institutions that have lost taxpayers billions of pounds.”
Now, we can get into a long argument about the value of outside experience and all that. But there’s no denying that in PR terms there are huge risks associated with the shadow Cabinet’s second jobs and little to no potential upside. With an election less than 18 months away, it is surely time for the shadow Cabinet to go full time?
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