KINGSTON MP Ed Davey has defended taking on two lucrative second jobs as MP, saying he is "proud" to have promoted green energy and always stuck to the rules.

The Liberal Democrat leader hit headlines this month after it emerged that he earned £78,000 per year from work as a consultant and advisor, in addition to his £80k MP's salary.

Davey has since quit both jobs, amid public outrage over politicians taking on high-earning side gigs - particularly when a conflict of interest is likely.

Among those criticised include Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox who earns £955,000 per year from his work for tax havens, while another Tory MP Owen Paterson was recently found to have breached lobbying rules.

In an interview with Kingston Nub News, Davey said he had stepped down from his £60k per year consultancy job at Herbert Smith Freehills and from his £18k per year role on the Board of Advisors for NextEnergyCapital, a green energy investment company.

Asked whether his jobs resulted in a conflict of interest with his work in Parliament, particularly as an advocate for renewables, Davey stressed he had "stuck to the rules" and said he was proud of the work he had done in encouraging use of green energy.

He said: "My focus is renewable energy. We have to try to tackle climate change.

"I am proud of what I did, proud of promoting renewable energy.

"I didn't advocate for any specific company in the solar industry.

"We have to declare interests - mine was always declared. I stuck to the rules.

"Why the scandal started was because one person broke the rules and Boris Johnson tried to get him off. That was outrageous from the prime minister."

Davey claimed the jobs had only taken up 5 hours per month despite being contracted for double this time.

This is well below the 15 hours per week limit that could be imposed on political representatives if new rules go through.

Davey said that the reason he had given notice to leave the jobs was "to show leadership."

He added that it was "extremely difficult" for him as a father to a disabled son to quit the roles, as the money that he earned went towards his son John's care.

He told Kingston Nub News: "It's clear that public opinion feels second jobs shouldn't happen.

"Even though the rules haven't changed and I've always abided by the rules, I think it is right to show leadership.

"I was working a relatively small number of hours, less than five a month even though I was contracted for longer.

"My disabled son John needs 24/7 care for the rest of his life.

"I'm an old dad, he's a young boy, so he'll be here for 40 years after I'm gone.

"The money was going to support him. The reason was to look after my son, a reason that any parent would recognise.

"It was an extremely difficult decision, but public opinion being what it is, it was important to show leadership."

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