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David Cameron's allies were today accused of "filling their boots" from second jobs before being forced to quit them.
The Tory leader ordered his shadow Cabinet in June to give up outside interests by the end of the year.
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague, policy supremo Oliver Letwin, and Whitehall reform chief Francis Maude came under fire today for continuing to rake in thousands of pounds.
Opposition MPs accused them of "misjudging the public mood" by clinging on to second jobs in the wake of the expenses scandal.
Mr Hague was paid nearly £15,000 for a speech to the Denplan national conference in Coventry in September. He declared it as two hours' work.
Labour MP John Spellar said: "David Cameron's allies are filling their boots with a last-minute money grab."
A Conservative Party spokesman said the shadow Cabinet will give up outside interests "by the end of this year".
Reader views (3)
What? The sitting goverment's party is reduced to this level of whining for want of something better? And all because there are some people making money outside of their day job? Better yet, because they haven't stopped doing this before the date they are being required to?
I never thought I'd see Labour as feeble as it is today, much as I've never liked them as political party.
- Rogan, Irving
Can't see anything wrong with paid speaking for opposition Mps. Its not like they are ripping anyone off, or making use of their previous position to gain access to important people unlike failed El Presidente Blair.
- Andy Davids, London
Let´s get into the real world, all of us. Old Tories are no better and no worse than New Labour. They´re all at it. The trough is big enough for everybody. I wonder how much Nick Griffin charges for a two-hour speech? Does anybody know?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
