A NORTH-East politician has called for fellow MPs Alan Milburn and William Hague to be banned from topping up their Westminster salaries with lucrative extra jobs.

Durham North MP Kevan Jones has supported a backbench Bill to prevent his fellow MPs "sneaking off to the boardroom" - insisting it is a full-time job simply serving constituents.

The MP (Employment Disqualification) Bill says: "Be a member of the board or be a Member of Parliament - but you cannot be both."

The measure would hit both Mr Hague, the Richmond MP, and Mr Milburn, MP for Darlington, who are among Westminster's biggest extra-curricular earners.

The former Conservative leader has earned up to £565,000 through directorships and speeches since returning to the Tory frontbench 18 months ago.

He is a director of AES Engineering and the Dublin-based transport group AMT-SYBEX and a paid advisor to the JCB Group and developers Dunalastair Ireland Ltd.

Meanwhile, Mr Milburn, a former Cabinet minister, is more than trebling his parliamentary salary of £60,675 through outside earnings. The Darlington MP set up AM Strategy Limited as a vehicle for his media and consultancy work, earning £30,000 as an advisor to Lloyds pharmacy alone.

Last month, he landed a £25,000 job advising the manufacturers of Pepsi and Walkers Crisps - despite fiercely criticising junk food in the past.

Mr Jones, a Labour backbencher who does no outside work, said: "I consider being an MP a full-time job in itself. If you are concentrating on doing that job properly, it is difficult to explain to constituents why you have a second source of income.

"In William Hague's case, there is also a potential conflict of interest - is he reflecting party policy, or promoting the business he is working for?"

Neither Mr Milburn nor Mr Hague could be contacted, but the latter recently insisted "95 per cent of my time goes into politics", adding: "I have drastically cut down on all of those other things."

The Bill, sponsored by Labour backbencher Martin Salter, recently gained its first reading in the Commons, but stands virtually no chance of becoming law.

It would allow paid activities "broadly compatible" with parliamentary duties, including writing articles and work for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Mr Salter carried out research which revealed a quarter of MPs held jobs in the City, the courts or with lucrative consultancies.

Other outside earners include former Home Secretary David Blunkett, (£585,000), Tory higher education spokesman Boris Johnson (£405,000) and Respect MP George Galloway (£305,000).