The public may be furious about Tory MPs who took lucrative second jobs representing big businesses when they should have been representing their constituents – but what help will they get from the Opposition?

None, it seems – because Labour leader Keir Starmer himself has taken second jobs.

In 2016, he worked for law firm Mishcon de Reya, declaring £4,500 in income for advising its academy between June 1 and September 30 that year.

But after joining the shadow cabinet as shadow Brexit Secretary that October, his application to return to work for the firm was vetoed by then-leader Jeremy Corbyn, and there was a good reason he should have done so.

Mishcon de Reya had represented Gina Miller when she challenged the authority of the UK’s Tory government to use delegated powers to invoke Article 50 of the European Union treaty to exit the bloc (she said – rightly – that only Parliament could remove rights that Parliament had granted).

When he became shadow Brexit secretary, Starmer became privy to information that could have created a conflict of interest between his work as a shadow Cabinet member and his second job.

I’m astonished to find myself in agreement with James Cleverly on this:

Starmer has since declared further income from employment outside Parliament.

He clearly not only approves of MPs having second jobs but has actively engaged in the activity himself – so he cannot credibly oppose the practice.

There are other reasons to be concerned about Starmer’s connection with Mishcon de Reya. It’s apparently the apartheid state of Israel’s favourite UK law firm…

… and it represented people involved in the controversy over the way Labour handled allegations of anti-Semitism against its members.

When these people sued Labour, Starmer caved in and paid them six-figure sums, even though he had been advised that Labour would win.

Keir Starmer is currently sitting on the report of the Forde Inquiry, that examined claims made about the behaviour of many of those involved in this controversy.

What a tangled web we weave!

It seems that, not only does the scandal over Tory MPs’ second jobs give us reason to believe Starmer would not pursue the matter with the necessary (forensic?) diligence…

It also suggests a conflict of interest that means Starmer should never have had anything to do with the Forde Inquiry or any part of Labour’s investigations into anti-Semitism.

He never declared it. Who knows how many Labour members have suffered injustice as a result?

Is this apparent corruption enough reason to demand Starmer’s resignation?

Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mike-sivier-libel-fight/

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