How much Swindon's Labour MPs are making on the side

At least when it comes to the money they are paid on top of their salaries as Members of Parliament.

The first fortnightly update of the Parliamentary register of MPs' interests since the general election in July has been released.

And it reveals that Swindon’s Labour MPs Heidi Alexander and Will Stone do not have paying jobs or consultancies extra to their Parliamentary salary.

This is in contrast to Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party, who was elected as MP for Clacton in July and who has declared he is earning £97,028 per month from TV station GB News, although since declaring that he has said that figure includes VAT and is paid to his company Thorn in the Side Ltd and not direct to him.

Swindon's Labour MPs Will Stone and Heidi Alexander (Image: Aled Thomas)

In fact, Swindon North’s MP, Will Stone, has given up the business he ran, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. He told the Adver: “I’m still training, but I don’t have time to run the business, so I’ve just handed it over to my number two.”

Mr Stone’s declaration says he receives no other income except from his backbench MP’s salary of £91,346 a year.

Although Mr Stone remains an elected member of Swindon Borough Council.

He also declared donations to his election campaign totalling £11,000-£5,000 from trade union  Unite and £6,000 from the Communications Workers’ Union.

His Swindon South counterpart Heidi Alexander has a similarly short declaration.

She lists donations to her campaign totalling £29,000 with £15,000 coming from OPD Group, a private company based in Hertfordshire, and £5,000 from Labour Together Ltd.

There were two donations from private individuals, one of £2,000 and one of £7,000.

Ms Alexander also listed joint owning a property in Swindon worth more than £100,000, as asked by the rules on declaring interests, but does not indicate that it is providing any rental income.

Ms Alexander is also Minister of State, one rung below cabinet level, at the Ministry of Justice. The last published claimed salary for a minister of state in the government is £31,000, added to the basic MP’s salary.

MPs are expected to keep the register updated with any payments or gifts or hospitality or donations or donations in kind they receive. The register is available online.