Cash For Access: Rifkind Steps Down As MP

Sir Malcolm Rifkind has announced he is to step down at the General Election after cash for access revelations.

The Tory MP has also resigned from his role as chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) after pressure over the lobbying scandal intensified.

Sir Malcolm, who became an MP in 1974, said it was unfair to friends and colleagues in Kensington for him to continue to remain the candidate for the General Election, but added the allegations against him were "contemptible".

He dismissed suggestions he had been pushed to step down from the ISC by Number 10, saying: "Downing Street don't have that power."

And he said it was only for four weeks as the committee will stop sitting when Parliament is dissolved ahead of the election next month.

He said: "This is entirely my personal decision.

"I have had no such requests from my constituency association but I believe that it is the right and proper action to take.

"As regards the allegations of Channel 4 and the Daily Telegraph I find them contemptible and will not comment further at this time.

"Although I will retire from Parliament I shall continue my public and political life and am much looking forward to doing so over the years to come."

The MP for Kensington had been due at the regular ISC meeting this morning, but admitted that the committee could be "distracted or affected by controversy" and that it would be better for him to step down.

Labour grandee Jack Straw was also caught by the sting, boasting about working "under the radar" in a £60,000 consultancy role for a commodities company for whom he claimed to have altered EU regulation and Ukrainian law.

Speaking exclusively to contributors to Sky News' Stand Up Be Counted campaign, Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow said both Mr Rifkind and Mr Straw should expect a tough response from the public.

"They're both highly intelligent, highly capable, highly experienced people," he said.

"It may well be that errors of judgement have been made and if that is so then they will cop it, they will face the music, they will suffer a penalty as a result.

"My attitude is that people should be in Parliament to represent their constituents and to stand up for principles and policies dearest to them.

"People should not be in Parliament to add to their personal fortune."

Moments before he announced his resignation, Sir Malcolm was involved in a testy exchange with a Sky News reporter during which he told him to "mind his own business" and accused him of being "childish".

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Gallery: Rifkind's 40-Year Politics Career

Sir Malcolm Rifkind's political career has spanned 40 years. He became and MP in 1974 and was prominent in both Margaret Thatcher and John Major's Governments.

October 1986: Malcolm Rifkind, at the Conservative Conference at Blackpool

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