Spotlight falls on top dog Milburn’s earnings

May 31 2009 by William Green, Sunday Sun

The register of MPs interests also show that Mr Milburn has travelled the globe in recent years, most recently to the African country of Sierra Leone.

He travelled to the capital Freetown to meet with the Government as of the Office of Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative, who paid the costs of the visit between 4 and 9 February this year.

And several trips have been made to Australia. Mr Milburn spent a large chunk of November 2007 as a guest of Australia’s Labor party, who paid for his flights, accommodation and meals.

He also travelled to Australia between 24 April and 4 May 2006 to make a speech for the Global Foundation and to meet with the Australian Labor party, with the two organisations footing the bill.

The Australian Labour party also paid for his flights and accommodation when he met with them between 9 and 16 February 2007.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign group, said: “Mr Milburn has obviously been raking money in from a range of outside jobs.

“He must come completely clean about what they involve, or people will naturally worry that it is eating into time that should be spent representing his constituents.

“Instead of being evasive about his outside earnings he should lay them open for the people to scrutinise.”

Mike Barker, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Darlington seat, said: “Alan Milburn isn’t seen very often in the constituency.”

The local councillor added he had lived in Darlington for 26 years and questioned how Mr Milburn had time to be an effective MP with so many outside jobs.

“If he spending so much time earning that much money he can’t have that much time left over to devote to the constituency. They don’t give him money for nothing,” said Mr Barker, who promised he would not take a second job if elected.

Tory candidate Edward Legard attacked Mr Milburn decision to take on jobs alongside being an MP.

“I don’t think it is right. If you are elected as an MP that is your job. Full-stop,” he said.

Mr Legard also said he yet to decide whether to move to the constituency from his North Yorkshire home, 45 minutes from Darlington, but added he worked primarily in the region for many years.