Moray MP Douglas Ross tops list of hours worked in second jobs
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AN investigation has revealed that Douglas Ross has worked the most hours in second jobs of any MP.
The figures, compiled by Sky News and Tortoise Media, show that Moray's MP has spent 3,940 hours working in his additional roles as an MSP and football referee since December 2019.
The majority of those hours have been taken up in his role as an MSP representing constituents in Moray.
While Mr Ross topped the list of hours worked in second jobs, he ranked comparatively low in the table of hourly earnings from second jobs among MPs, earning £16 per hour for a total of £66,930.
He received £5,430 from UEFA, £17,530 from the Scottish Football Association, £200 from Aberdeen Football Club and a total of £43,630 from the Scottish Parliament.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson topped that list with hourly earnings of £21,800 from second jobs: a total of £2.5 million.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead claims that Mr Ross' work in additional roles is a "dereliction of duty" adding that his sole focus should be on his job as an MP.
Mr Lochhead said: "Douglas Ross' priority should be to represent the people of Moray as a full time MP but instead he’s racked up more hours on second and third jobs than any other MP in Westminster.
"People in Moray deserve a full time MP who will be 100 per cent focussed on serving everyone who lives here."
Mr Ross dismissed Mr Lochhead's accusations, labelling them a "partisan attack".
He added: "Richard Lochhead seemed to have no issue when a number of his SNP colleagues did the same, serving in both Parliaments.
“And I can only assume he will also be commenting on the amount earned by each MP from their additional jobs, as SNP MP Ian Blackford was one of the highest in the country declaring an hourly rate of £1218 for his income above his salary for being an MP.
"If Richard Lochhead has nothing to say about this, it would seem like just another partisan attack on me, when he should be 100 per cent focussed on serving constituents here in Moray."
