Senior civil servants in the UK, earning up to £225,000 annually from taxpayer-funded roles, are supplementing their incomes with lucrative second jobs in the private sector. A review by the Daily Mail of government data revealed that dozens of officials, from directors to chief executive level, have declared outside employment over the past two years.
Some of these roles involve significant potential conflicts of interest. For instance, one senior official working in technology or property has declared directorships in IT or housing development firms. Another civil servant, earning up to £130,000, consults for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, while a Whitehall security chief also holds a role as 'head of intelligence' on a Channel 4 television series. Other high-earning public officials have declared second jobs as yoga instructors, fitness trainers, dance teachers, stand-up comedians, horse retirement home owners, and rugby referee instructors.
Mark Bourgeois, chief executive of the Government Property Agency, leads the list of those declaring second jobs, with a salary between £220,000 and £224,999. He also serves as a director for the leadership firm Velement.
Catherine Blair, chief financial officer at HM Courts and Tribunals Service and earning up to £163,000, is a director of the management consultancy firm Cadrup. Ian Wallis, HMRC's director of people analytics and insight, who earns up to £130,000, is also a director of the tech firm Data Strategists. Noreen Winhall, a commercial director for buildings, and Kerry Williams, a commercial specialist, are both directors of property or building development firms.
While there is no suggestion that any of the officials have broken rules, the revelations have prompted criticism. Mike Wood, shadow Cabinet Office minister, stated that voters would question why highly paid public servants are taking on additional roles while taxes are increasing. He emphasized that while outside interests are not inherently wrong, public duties should be the priority, and conflicts of interest should be avoided.
Shimeon Lee, policy analyst at the TaxPayers' Alliance, expressed astonishment at the number of civil servants building side hustles, arguing that departments must ensure taxpayers receive full-time commitment for full-time pay. Government guidelines state that any paid outside employment must be approved, declared, and published, and undertaken only outside contracted working hours.