JCB pays top Tory £50k

STAFFORDSHIRE firm JCB paid senior Conservative politician William Hague £50,000 last year in his role as a non executive director.

The figure was revealed as Tory leader David Cameron published details of the 'outside' earnings – money made beyond an MPs' parliamentary wage – of all of his front bench team.

The payments were made during a year when the Rocester-based firm announced it would lay off hundreds of workers.

In total last year shadow foreign secretary Mr Hague earned about £230,000 from after-dinner speeches, advice to private companies and writing books – in addition to his £65,000 MP's wage.

New rules laid out in the wake of the scandal over MPs' expenses will see all earnings made after this month declared in full, including details of how long MPs worked and how much they were paid.

Mr Cameron said: "My shadow cabinet have recognised we are at the end of a five-year Parliament where it does become necessary to demonstrate 100 per cent focus on Parliament, politics and setting out our credentials as an alternative Government.

"So they've decided that from the end of December they won't have any outside interests."

Mr Hague said he would now be leaving JCB after one more board meeting.