^{People moan, but the snorkelling's done wonders for his physique.}

Withers has found itself at the centre of a good old Tory sleaze media storm after its prestigious political hire, former Attorney General and current Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Cox, was accused of neglecting his constituents in favour of a pleasant tropical setting and a lucrative salary.

Private client specialist Withers, which expanded to various exotic locales following a merger to cater for the globally wealthy, took on Sir Geoffrey in September 2020 with an agreement to pay him £468,000 a year for up to 48 hours a month. It was later revised to £400,000 for up to 41 hours' work a month.

Labour is calling for an enquiry into his second job after it emerged that in April the barrister jetted off to Withers' office in the British Virgin Isles for two months to advise the BVI government on an anti-corruption inquiry being brought against it, and that he used a proxy back in dreary Britain to cast his Commons votes.

According to parliament's Register of Members' Financial Interests, as well as his £82,000 backbencher salary and the £400k Withers salary, Cox netted an additional £437,235.11 from Withers for an extra 434 hours work undertaken between January and July 2021. 

Around £1,000 an hour appears to be the MP's going rate. In 2021 he also banked £14,999.67 from Fidlaw for 14 hours work, £25,000 from CGS Legal for 20 hours work, £4,200 from Messrs Janes for 4 hours work, and £40,279.17 from the Khan Partnership Solicitors for 41 hours work.

As at 1 November, Cox had registered legal earnings of £921,713.95 in 2021 and, allowing for two weeks' holiday, had devoted a 20 hour working week to his side gig.

MPs are allowed to take second jobs, and while the spectacle of a lawyer earning a fortune in the Caribbean is political catnip, it is Cox's apparent breach of rules forbidding MPs from using public resources for "personal or financial benefit" which may trip him up. Video footage from September appeared to show the Withers consultant taking part in a virtual hearing for his BVI inquiry from his Commons office.

At points in the call which corresponded with parliamentary votes, the barrister excuses himself from the meeting, asking the other attendees to "Forgive my absence during some of the morning. I'm afraid the bell went off".

A statement on his website said he had referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, but that, "He does not believe that he breached the rules".

"Sir Geoffrey regularly works 70-hour weeks and always ensures that his casework on behalf of his constituents is given primary importance and fully carried out," the statement said, adding that he checked with the Conservative chief whip whether it was okay to vote remotely from a sun lounger "and was advised that it was appropriate".

Withers said, "Sir Geoffrey Cox has been working with Withers as Consultant Global Counsel since September 2020. As a leading QC, we very much value Sir Geoffrey's huge depth of expertise and experience in domestic and international legal disputes". And please, please can the spotlight swing onto a different MP, please. Perhaps Nadine Dorries used her office to audition for Celebrity Bake Off, or a tour party caught Gavin Williamson eating flies for cash.