A Cabinet minister has defended MPs holding second jobs, amid criticism of his role in the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal.

New Commons Leader Mark Spencer said MPs “to a certain extent” should be encouraged to be “out in the real world” and experiencing other forms of employment.

In his previous role as Government chief whip, Mr Spencer played a leading role in trying to get Tory MPs to support a shake-up of Commons sleaze rules in an attempt to spare Mr Paterson from being suspended.

The plan ultimately failed when opposition parties refused to join a proposed Tory-led panel to rethink the system and Mr Paterson resigned as Conservative MP for North Shropshire.

The former Northern Ireland secretary was found to have breached the rules by lobbying ministers and officials on behalf of two companies paying him £100,000 a year.

But he denied breaking the rules.

Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP Richard Burgon said: “The now-Leader of the House is more than familiar with the details of the Owen Paterson scandal that did so much damage to our politics, given his role in those events.”

The MP for Leeds East said “the rot needs to be cut out” and asked if Mr Spencer would allow time to debate his proposals to ban second jobs for MPs, adding the Government is “repeatedly blocking” his private member’s bill.

Mr Spencer said his second job in addition to representing Sherwood is as Commons Leader, adding: “I don’t know if he wants to ban me from having my second role, but that would be quite challenging.”

He added: “I think the House of Commons benefits from a very wide range of experience of backgrounds, of former careers, and to a certain extent I think colleagues should be encouraged to be out there in the real world experiencing other experiences of employment.”

Mr Spencer said Mr Burgon was “being a little disingenuous”, describing himself as a farmer and saying: “I live in the middle of that farm, I don’t know how I would extract myself from that business if I were no longer allowed to have a second job.

“I’m not prepared to divorce my wife, I’m not prepared to move house, I don’t know quite how I would deliver on the route that he wants to go.”

SNP Commons leader Pete Wishart said of Mr Spencer’s reshuffle job change: “He couldn’t possibly remain as chief whip after ‘blackmailgate’ and after being the initiator of all the current difficulties by trying to lead a recalcitrant and reluctant backbench over the top to defend the indefensible by trying to save his pal Owen Paterson.

“They’ve made him Leader of the House – almost unbelievable. It’s like moving Dracula from minister for blood supply to minister for blood transfusions, but we wish him well.”

Mr Spencer joked back: “I am concerned every week that he turns up here in a very angry state. When I meet him outside he seems to be very calm – as he crosses the line he seems to have this huge anger.

“It’s my personal mission to try and soothe (Mr Wishart). I am the Sudocrem to his nappy rash.”