A LOCAL MP has defended his right to work as a barrister in the wake of criticism.

Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell was elected in May, but has continued to work as a barrister specialising in serious criminal cases and court martials.

Last month, Mr Reevell, who also represents Kirkburton, Denby Dale and Mirfield, defended a Scarborough man accused of killing a woman at a trial which ran for two weeks.

And while MPs may continue to earn money for work outside Parliament, the Conservative member was criticised for being away from Westminster.

One of his constituents, Harry Bedford, of Castle Mount, Dewsbury, accuses Mr Reevell of ignoring his parliamentary duties to defend the man who was later jailed for the woman’s murder.

In a letter, addressed to Mr Reevell, he said: “Do you not agree it is immoral that you are taking a taxpayer salary as an MP, even though you are patently not doing the MP’s job during that period because you are actually getting a taxpayer salary for being a defence barrister in Crown Court?”