Cox under pressure

Barrister has second job as Devon MP

Pressure is increasing on Torridge and West Devon MP Sir Geoffrey Cox, who has spent part of his time recently working from the Caribbean where he undertakes legal work for the government of the British Virgin Islands.

Sir Geoffrey, who describes himself as one of the UK's leading barristers, is responding to complaints he may have breached guidelines on using parliamentary property to conduct private business. 

Famed for his booming fruity voice, Sir Geoffrey, a former attorney general - the government's top legal job - has been recorded speaking with his private clients from what is being assumed to be his office at the House of Commons (see video clip). At one point he has to leave the meeting "because the bell went off" - thought to refer to the division bell that rings in parliament when a vote is called.

The controversy has arisen following a government debacle last week when Conservative MPs were ordered to vote to save the job of former minister Owen Paterson who faced a suspension from the commons for 30 days for lobbying on behalf of firms paying him more than £100,000.

Mr Paterson resigned as an MP when the government backtracked the following day, seemingly leaving him to his fate.

Now Sir Geoffrey is facing a claim of a conflict of interest after it was alleged he lobbied against imposing further financial regulations for the Caymen Islands shortly after being paid more than £40,000 from legal firms based in the tax haven. 

A statement published on his website on Wednesday says: "Sir Geoffrey Cox...is a leading barrister in England and makes no secret of his professional activities.

"He was asked to advise the attorney general and the elected government of BVI, a British Overseas Territory, in a public inquiry into whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty may have taken place in recent years in the Virgin Islands and to carry out a review of its systems of government in preparation for that inquiry."

It continues: "This is not to 'defend' a tax haven or, as has been inaccurately reported, to defend any wrongdoing but to assist the public inquiry in getting to the truth. No evidence of tax evasion or personal corruption has been adduced before the Inquiry and if it had been, that person would have been required to seek their own representation.

Sir Geoffrey regularly works 70-hour weeks and always ensures that his casework on behalf of his constituents is given primary importance and fully carried out."

He says he will cooperate with a complaint made to the parliamentary standards commissioner, and it is for the people of Torridge and West Devon to decide whether they should vote for him to be their MP. 

They have done so since 2005, and the next general election when they will be able to make that choice again is due within the next three years.

MPs are allowed to have other jobs, but they can can't use public resources, including parliamentary offices, for "personal or financial benefit".