Tory MPs in Oxfordshire were criticised last night for failing to support plans to shine a spotlight on their outside earnings.

None of the county’s Conservative MPs voted for new rules to force the disclosure of how much members’ financial interests are worth outside Westminster.

Despite the abstentions, MPs voted 305 to 31 in favour of the new rules. From July 1, every MP must reveal the amount of each individual payment received and the number of hours of work spent on other jobs.

In addition, MPs agreed to scrap second home allowances for members living in Greater London, to require all MPs to submit receipts for expense claims under £25, and for all MPs’ staff to be employed centrally by the House of Commons.

A decision on whether to scrap allowances for MPs living outside London has been deferred until after an independent inquiry.

Susie Squire, campaign manager of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Second earnings need to be transparent. What have they got to hide?”

Labour MP Andrew Smith, who represents Oxford East, voted for the new measures, saying full declaration of MPs’ income from second jobs and consultancy work was “essential to meet public concern”.

However, Tory leader David Cameron, MP for Witney, said: “I’m a fierce advocate of transparency, but this goes a bit far and will make the system ridiculous.”

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey said: “I don’t have strong views one way or the other. I earn £2,500 as a director of Edexcel, a bit from broadcasting and I donate fees for speeches to charity.”

Banbury MP Tony Baldry said he believed all matters concerning MPs’ expenses should have been decided by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, as the Government’s broader plans to replace the second homes allowance for MPs with a flat-rate attendance payment will be.

But he said he believed making public details of private income went too far.

Henley MP John Howell added: “The House of Commons voted more in an hour on MPs’ expenses than the Government has allowed it in the last two weeks –– it’s a disgrace.”

Simon Page, 43, from Blackbird Leys, who has been out of work since losing his job at BMW in February, said: “If it was you or me we would have to have receipts for everything, but if you are an MP you get away with it. We have the right to know what they are being paid. It should be public.”

Dr Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, could not be contacted last night.

news@oxfordmail.co.uk