Senior Whitehall officials held paid second jobs, audit finds
An audit of publicly available Whitehall declarations found that dozens of senior civil servants have held paid second jobs over the past two years. Some roles raise questions about possible conflicts of interest because they overlap with officials’ government responsibilities, although the article says there is no suggestion that any official has broken rules.
The highest-paid official identified is Government Property Agency chief executive Mark Bourgeois, whose salary is between £220,000 and £224,999; he also directs a leadership firm. Other declared work includes an HMRC human resources director consulting for a Formula One team, a security chief appearing on Channel 4’s *Hunted*, and officials working in technology, property, fitness and the arts. The Government says outside work must be approved, declared and published, and carried out outside contracted hours.
In short
- Dozens of senior officials declared paid second jobs.
- Mark Bourgeois earns up to £224,999 and directs a leadership firm.
- The Government says outside work must be approved and done outside contracted hours.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Paid outside work can let experienced officials share expertise, maintain professional skills and pursue interests beyond public service, while adding to their income. If roles are approved, declared, published and kept outside contracted hours, the arrangement can be compatible with public duties and may bring useful experience into government.
The case against
Senior officials can influence policy, contracts and regulation, so outside roles may create actual or perceived conflicts even when rules are followed. The public has reason to expect their judgement to be impartial, and careful scrutiny, clear limits or restrictions may be needed to protect trust and ensure public responsibilities take priority.
Explained simply
Whitehall is the central administration of the UK government, where civil servants support ministers and run public services. Senior officials lead departments and agencies, and their work can involve decisions on public money, policy and government contracts.
Civil servants may take on outside work if it is approved and declared under government rules. The declarations help show what other interests officials have, so potential overlaps with their public duties can be examined.
The issue matters because people need confidence that official decisions are made in the public interest. An overlap may raise questions about a possible conflict, but does not by itself show that rules have been broken.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Moonlighting mandarins: Civil servants are earning up to £225,000 cash in with second jobs”.