TWO local Tories contributed to the Prime Minister's humiliating defeat in last night's dramatic Commons vote in favour of disclosing MPs' outside earnings. Bolton North-east MP Peter Thurnham was one of 23 Tories who voted with his conscience and against his party. Bury South MP, David Sumberg, was among a further 31 who abstained or did not vote.

The Commons voted by an unexpected majority of 51 to throw out proposals to keep details of MPs' earnings for parliamentary work a secret.

John Major had advised colleagues to reject an amendment requiring the disclosure of outside earnings.

MPs are also banned from acting as paid advocates, which includes tabling questions, motions and amendments to bills. And their rights to speak in debates involving outside paid interests will be limited.

Local Tories who voted against disclosure include Tom Sackville (Bolton West), Alistair Burt (Bury North), and Den Dover (Chorley).

All Bolton area Labour MPs - David Young (Bolton South-east), Terry Lewis (Worsley), Lawrence Cunliffe (Leigh), Janet Anderson (Rossendale and Darwen), Ian McCartney (Markerfield), and Roger Stott (Wigan) - voted for disclosure.

Mr Thurnham told the BEN: "I think public opinion was clearly looking for disclosure. There is no reason why it should be secret.

As a professional engineer, Mr Thurnham said he had done work for the Electrical Contractors' Association. He said this was a healthy relationship and he was happy to reveal his earnings from it.

Mr Lewis, a member of the Commons privileges committee, said: "It was a humiliating rebuff for the Prime Minister. We are already into a leadership crisis because he was not prepared to lead his people away from sleaze."

Mr Young added: "It will be welcomed by the majority of MPs who are fed up with being confused with a small minority who come into politics for personal advantage."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.