EX-SCOTTISH Tory chief Ruth Davidson has been told to get back to the day job after taking on a lucrative gig as a London lobbyist.
The Edinburgh MSP has joined PR firm Tulchan Communications as a senior adviser.
The firm has offices in London and Singapore, and Davidson's role will be helping the company’s corporate clients “navigate a continually evolving public and corporate landscape".
It's understood that Davidson, who earns £63,579 as an MSP, will receive £50,000 for 24 days of work a year.
Tulchan's clients include the Qatari Investment Authority, and PFI firm HICL infrastructure.
Labour, the SNP, the Greens, and the Lib Dems have all called on the Tory MSP to choose between her constituents and her corporate clients.
The Public Relations and Communications Association trade body have even described the appointment as “wholly unethical”.
Francis Ingham, PRCA director-general, said: “It is simply wrong for lobbying agencies to employ legislators.
SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald described Davidson’s decision to take on a new job as a “monumental misjudgement”.
He said she could not “be allowed to accept cash from a lobbying firm while continuing to sit as an MSP. “ MacDonald added: “That’s not only a conflict of interest – it’s holding her constituents, and the Scottish Parliament as a whole, in contempt.
“Ruth Davidson needs to decide which day job matters. If she isn’t interested in focusing on her role as an MSP she should allow the people of Edinburgh Central to pick a representative who is.
“If she is brazen enough to continue sitting as an MSP, then the questions and pressure on her will simply continue to pile up.”
Labour’s Neil Findlay, who is currently trying to get a Bill through Holyrood banning MSPs from taking on a second job, called on Davidson to resign: “Instead of standing up for her constituents in parliament she will be standing up for the firms that her bosses are paid to lobby for.
“You cannot be a parliamentarian and a highly paid lobbyist at the same time.
“If she wants to continue pocketing tens of thousands of pounds from this lobbying firm she should resign as an MSP.
“The people of Edinburgh deserve an MSP that will represent them, not private corporations.”
Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone agreed, and called for Findlay’s Bill to be fast-tracked: “The people of Edinburgh Central elected Ruth Davidson to represent them, not use her position to earn £50,000 from lobbyists.
“This is clearly a conflict of interests. Davidson needs to resign from the corporate body and as an MSP so Edinburgh Central can elect a committed representative.
“Most folk who take second jobs do so through pressing necessity. It’s time for a by-election in Edinburgh Central, not to mention a change in the law. Neil Findlay’s bill on second jobs for MSPs should be fast tracked to stop this happening again.”
Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles called the appointment an "absolute joke."
He added: “It spells the end for the growth of the Scottish Conservatives now their former leader is walking away for a fat cat job in the City of London.
"Ruth Davidson has let the people of Edinburgh Central down. If she's not willing to give them proper representation she should step aside and let them choose a new MSP."
A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said the "business advisory role" was "well within all parliamentary and industry rules."
He added: “It is far less onerous than the party leadership she held for eight years, and she is able to complete the 16 hours a month it requires while still having more time for her family and constituency.
“Ruth is committed to seeing out her term as the MSP for Edinburgh Central.”
Speaking to the Evening Standard about her new role Davidson said: "I am very excited to be joining Tulchan at such a critical time for UK PLC.
"I believe the evolution of Tulchan's mission statement towards creating stakeholder value is prescient.
"Political and economic uncertainty persists and the scope for shocks is high.
"As a result, businesses must continue to renew their licence to operate with their stakeholders and reflect on what is expected of them or risk being targeted by anti-business vested interests and losing public faith."
Last week, ITV announced Davidson would be the chair of their new mental health advisory agreement.
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