Number of ex-ministers securing lucrative private work through contacts doubles in two years

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The number of ex-ministers cashing in on their connections by landing plum private sector jobs has doubled in two years.

At least 32 Labour MPs kept the cheques rolling in by securing lucrative posts in 2006-2008 since leaving the Government.

This compared to 15 former ministers asking permission to take private sector jobs in 2004-2006.

The politicians, who include former Prime Minister Tony Blair and one-time senior Cabinet members such as David Blunkett and Patricia Hewitt, are clawing in millions of pounds from their contracts.

At least 11 have snapped up positions with companies linked to their former Whitehall departments.

None of the former ministers has broken any rules because they have all been approved by the parliamentary advisory committee on business appointments.

But the committee expressed ‘concern’ at the number who failed to consult them before taking up their money-spinning jobs.

Its report revealed 32 former ministers sought clearance to accept a total of 81 new jobs in 2006-2008.

Mr Blair, for instance, has taken lucrative positions at J P Morgan and Zurich Financial Services since quitting Downing Street last summer.

And ex-armed forces minister Ivor Caplin went to work for a weapons company selling to the Ministry of Defence.

Not since 1997-1998, the first year Labour came to power, had so many ex-ministers asked if they were allowed to join companies outside the House of Commons. Then, 65 MPs from the defeated Tory government sought approval for 166 jobs.

An official for the advisory committee said the rise was probably due to Gordon Brown seizing the keys to Number 10.

He said: ‘It is not unexpected when there has been a change of Prime Minister for there to be a number of ministers who leave at the same time.’

But Tory frontbencher Chris Grayling said: ‘When former ministers are rushing to cash in on their experience in this way, you sense that they’ve lost faith in the Prime Minister and the likelihood of him staying in power.’