Standards committee drops changes to limit time MPs spend on second jobs

Other rules around lobbying to be tightened up to avoid repeat of Owen Paterson scandal

An attempt to limit the amount of time MPs can spend on second jobs has been dropped, with other rules around lobbying tightened up to avoid a repeat of the Owen Paterson scandal.

Changes to the MPs' code of conduct were considered by the Commons standards committee after outcry over Paterson's outside interests and the revelation that the former attorney general Geoffrey Cox accrued more than 6m as a lawyer since entering parliament.