SCOTTISH Greens have signalled support for the introduction of stricter measures on the second incomes of MSPs in a development which could cost Tory politicians nearly £400,000 a year.

The party gave its backing to the plans but pointed out there were areas where MSPs from certain career backgrounds needed to carry out a minimum number of hours work to retain their professional qualifications.

The move came after it emerged yesterday that Labour MSP Neil Findlay is to consult on a members’ bill in Holyrood that would bring in a crackdown on the outside earnings of MSPs.

Ten Scottish Conservatives — around one third of Ruth Davidson’s parliamentary group — make money from other jobs on top of the £61,778 per year salary they receive as parliamentarians. It is understood Findlay is looking at a range of options that would limit second job earnings.

A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: “Clearly there are cases where people require to keep up with CPD [Continuing Professional Development] for nursing and similar careers but it simply isn’t possible to continue with constant employment commitments as an MSP.

“With casework, committees and chamber business each week, not to mention invites from far and wide to many interesting and related events, there is a great deal to be done, and focus and time required to do it.

“Greens certainly view being an MSP as a full time job, and we look forward to seeing the details of what Neil Findlay is proposing.”

A report in the Sunday Herald said that according to the most recent register of interests for MSPs, Davidson’s Tory colleagues on the floor have got by far the most to lose financially.

This includes Alexander Burnett, the party’s business, innovation and energy spokesman, who declared that he anticipated withdrawing up to £120,000 in “personal remuneration” as owner of AJA Burnett Estate last year.

He has estimated that he will spend up to one day a month on the role. If he received £120,000 for working 12 days a year, Burnett could make around £10,000 a day, the paper said.

He also receives a “basic salary” of £6120 a year for being director and chairman of North Banchory Company Limited.

Donald Cameron, the shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Environment and Land Reform, declared up to £50,000 for two non-executive directorships.

Rural affairs spokesman Edward Mountain received up to £40,000, in the form of utilities and insurance payments for his home, as a partner in Delfur Farms Farming Partnership — a role which takes up between two to four hours a week.

He also pocketed £14,000 from Delfur Fishings in 2016 and will spend around one hour a week on this role.

Adam Tomkins, the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Communities, Social Security and Equalities, makes up to £35,000 a year as a Glasgow University professor, a second job that takes up one and a half days a week, he says.

He also declared around £1000 per annum as a twice-yearly conference delegate for Liberty Fund, a private education foundation.

MSPs from other parties could be affected too.

Former SNP Health Secretary Alex Neil receives up to £15,000 a year as a one-day-a-month advisor to a renewable energy firm, while fellow party MSP Gil Paterson receives up to £20,000 per year for less than 20 days work as part owner of a family business.

Labour leader Kezia Dugdale receives £8000 a year for a newspaper column — cash which she donates to charity — while SNP MSP Joan McAlpine declares £20,000 per annum for hers.

Findlay said: “My consultation will seek the views of the public on whether very well paid MSPs should be moonlighting on second jobs.”

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “It’s rich for Neil Findlay to criticise fellow MSPs for having second jobs.

“When he was supposed to be representing the people of West Lothian in the Scottish Parliament, he was beavering away at a book about his political hero Jeremy Corbyn.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said it would consider any proposed Bill when it was published.