Boris Johnson's U-turns on sleaze and the second jobs row are causing "dissatisfaction" among Conservative MPs, a vice chairman of the powerful 1922 committee of backbenchers has said.

       After two weeks of damaging headlines, which have led to a Tory slide in the polls, the Prime Minister yesterday attempted to get on the front foot by writing to the Speaker to propose a partial ban on second jobs and "reasonable limits" on outside work to ensure MPs are focusing on the day job.

       His intervention came as Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, set out a five-point plan to "clean up politics", with a ban on second jobs being put to a vote today.

       Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Trade Secretary, said Mr Johnson was "taking the lead" on sleaze and second jobs.

       But the move has sparked consternation among some Tory backbenchers, further straining the relationship with Number 10.

       Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, vice chair of 1922, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is [frustration]. Clearly the whole issue of standards and the motion tabled before the house and then a complete U-turn and now this... there is dissatisfaction on the backbenches and that is why the PM needs to make it very clear to MPs what he expects from us."

       But Jake Berry, a former minister, seemed to shrug off the impact the proposals would have, saying: "The Prime Minister's proposals... are that we are going to vote in Parliament today to uphold the existing rules."

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       The Northern Ireland Protocol is provoking "very stark division" of opinion, Lord Frost has said, as he shrugged off suggestions that local residents are not concerned by it.

       "I don't think it's true from the polls I've seen that there's widespread support for the way the protocol is working," the Brexit minister told BBC Radio Ulster.

       "There is a division of opinion on the subject," he added, stressing the need to "proceed by consensus, with cross-community support"

       with the maximum possible of buy-in to solutions and that appears not to be the situation with the protocol at the moment, and we would like to design, to negotiate, to agree something that everybody can get behind.

       "We have said, we repeat, that there always have to be some sort of treaty arrangement between the UK and the EU covering Northern Ireland but it's got to be an arrangement that everybody can get behind."

       Lord Frost has rejected the EU's claim that Northern Ireland has "the best of both worlds" because it is both in the Single Market and the UK's internal market.

       The Brexit minister told BBC Radio Ulster: "There isn't the best of both worlds at the moment, because there isn't free access to goods from Great Britain, and that's the situation that has been established by the protocol."

       He acknowledged there was "a range of views amongst business" about how best to proceed, but stressed the trade links between Britain and the province were "about three times as big as those with Ireland and in the single market, so in aggregate those links with Great Britain are incredibly important".

       He added: "It is those that are being worn away by the way the protocol is working, and that's why it is so important to deal with them," he said.

       An MP doing 20 hours a week of work outside Parliament could be considered "reasonable", a minister has said.

       Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Trade Secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Let's say two shifts, that would be 16 hours a week.

       "Are we saying 10 to 20 hours a week outside your work as an MP and a parliamentarian? If that's what you chose to do as your choice, that's fine."

       Lord Frost has said that triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol is a "very real option".

       The Brexit minister is in Northern Ireland for meetings with the region's political parties and businesses.

       He said he would "very much hope" to bring the talks with the EU to a conclusion.

       "That's what we would most like to do. If we can't, if there can't be an agreement, then obviously the famous Article 16 is a very real option for us," he told BBC Radio Ulster.

       A minister has said Boris Johnson's proposals will restrict lobbying and "acting as a political consultant" rather than banning second jobs outright.

       Asked if the new rules would have barred Owen Paterson's actions Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Trade Secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The question of lobbying is one that caused the review and indeed the commissioner's report... if it is a political consultancy role, that is not appropriate while you are a serving MP.

       "Clearly those who have served and have great experience, can take that into business [afterwards]."

       Challenged,she added: "I am sure colleagues will have strong views and bring therm to the fore during today's debate.. political consultancy role is one that should be considered one that is not acceptable."

       She highlighted other professions, such as writing and nursing, as roles that would be exempt.

       Asked if the Prime Minister would be restricted from writing a biography of Shakespeare during a pnademic, she dodged the question, stressing that all MPs work "longer than 40-hour weeks".

       MPs already have "reasonable experience" before joining Parliament, a Labour frontbencher has said.

       Thangam Debbonaire, shadow leader of the Commons, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We all come to parliament with experience.

       "I have chosen to take up the great honour that it is to represent 130,000 people of Bristol West, as every MP does, to put their constituents and their country first.

       "That is an important principle - a principle of selflessness, of objectivity, of accountability," she added.

       Asked repeatedly what Sir Keir Starmer's outside work had brought to Parliament, Ms Debbonaire did not give a straight answer.

       Boris Johnson is "attempting to gut the strength of our motion" to limit MPs' second jobs amid the ongoing sleaze row, Labour's shadow leader has said.

       "The Prime Minister talks a good talk when it comes to action not a lot of follow through," Thangam Debbonaire told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

       She noted his intervention "comes after significant pressure, not just from Labour but important external bodies" and was only "an amendment to our motion, attempting to gut the strength of our motion... it tends to gut that, it weakens that and says lots of warm words without any concrete action."

       UK inflation has jumped to a near-decade high as soaring energy and fuel prices pushed up the cost of living, according to official figures.

       The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose sharply from 3.1 per cent in September to 4.2 per cent last month - the highest level since December 2011 and a bigger-than-expected jump.

       Labour's Rachel Reeves said it was "extremely concerning giving the growing cost-of-living crisis" and accused the Government of "looking the other way, blaming 'global problems'."

       The shadow chancellor added: "It's going to leave households more than ￡1,000 worse off.

       "From the energy price cap going up, increased VAT for hospitality businesses, used cars and clothing costing more, fuel prices hitting another record high and rents rising at their fastest rate in 13 years - the list of price crunches linked to this inflation rise goes on and on."

       Banning all second jobs for MPs could deter "a whole class of people" from Parliament, senior Tory Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has said.

       The vice chairman of the 1922 committee told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I think we all need to take a long, deep breath on this and get it right.

       "There are two real aspects to it. One is how we represent our constituents. And the second is what sort of type of people we want in Parliament.

       "Because if we ban all second jobs, I think you are going to deter a whole class of people who represent the business opportunities in this country."

       The Trade Secretary has said she probably would have "slapped" Stanley Johnson if he inappropriately touched her in the way alleged by Caroline Nokes.

       Anne-Marie Trevelyan told Sky News she backed her colleague in speaking out, saying: "I'm very, very glad that anyone stands up to ... this sort of, as she suggests, behaviour that goes on."

       Asked if Mr Johnson will be investigated, she said: "I will leave Caroline to work with the party on that but we have a robust system in place and I hope very much she'll be able to work that through with the party machine."

       Asked what she would have done in response to the alleged touching, she said: "At the time, I would have probably slapped him, which arguably isn't a better response either, but it would've been an instinctive response from me and I think Caroline would've shown great personal restraint if she quietly moved away."

       Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who is treasurer of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, has said there will be a "more than adequate opportunity" to make his views known to Boris Johnson on Wednesday.

       Declining to confirm whether the Prime Minister would be going to speak to backbench MPs, Sir Geoffrey said: "Various discussions will be taking place between backbenchers today and the Prime Minister, and I've no doubt I will have an opportunity to make my views known."

       He added: "I think I will have more than adequate opportunity to make my views known today."

       He said Mr Johnson "wants to get ahead of the curve" on the debate and is "doing the right thing".

       He said: "We need to get the rules absolutely clear on what MPs can do, what they can't do, so that our constituents have an expectation of what the person representing them is going to do."

       Boris Johnson announced support for a ban on some MPs' second jobs on Tuesday, after a fortnight of "Tory sleaze" headlines and plummeting opinion polls.

       In an unexpected change, the Prime Minister called for two alterations to the MPs' code of conduct that will make it harder for them to give political advice for money.

       The first would cap outside activity by MPs to "reasonable limits" to make sure their primary focus is representing constituents in Parliament. The second would bar MPs from getting paid to be a "parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant" to minimise the chance of money shaping political decisions.

       However, the definitions of both changes remained unclear on Tuesday night, meaning it is unknown whether they would force many MPs to lose current second jobs.

       It's shaping up to be a particularly busy day in Westminster.

       Boris Johnson will clash with Sir Keir Starmer at the despatch box in their weekly round of PMQs.

       Then MPs will debate sleaze and second jobs - with the Prime Minister hoping he has done enough to undermine some of Labour's position.

       And from 3pm, the Prime Minister will face the liaison committee - bringing him before Caroline Nokes for the first time since she made her allegations against his father. He will also face challenging questions from Chris Bryant, William Wragg and Jeremy Hunt.

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