Kensington MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind will step down as chairman of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee and as a Conservative MP following his involvement in a ‘cash-for-access’ scandal.
The Dispatches documentary Politicians for Hire, which broadcasted last night, secretly recorded former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm controversially offering his services to a private fictitious Chinese company in return for payments.
Despite contesting his innocence on yesterday’s Today Programme and claiming the allegations are ‘unfounded’, Sir Malcolm came under increasing pressure to relinquish his role as chairman of the security committee.
“None of the current controversy with which I am associated is relevant to my work as chairman of the intelligence and security committee of Parliament,” Sir Malcolm said in his resignation statement.
“I do not want the work of the committee and the publication of the report to be, in any way, distracted or affected by controversy as to my personal position.”
He will remain a member of the committee but acknowledged it would be better for a new chairman to replace him.
Sir Malcolm had planned to seek one further term as MP but confirmed this morning he will also step down as Conservative MP at the end of the current parliament.
Picture courtesy of Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with thanks
