Rifkind quits parliament after cash-for-access sting shame
SIR MALCOLM Rifkind announced yesterday his retirement as an MP in May, and immediately as chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee.
He was caught by Channel 4 and the Telegraph offering to use his influence and contacts as a paid for consultant for a fake Chinese firm.
The veteran MP has represented Kensington since 2005. He was also the MP for Edinburgh Pentlands from 1974 until 1997, when he lost the seat. In government, Rifkind held the roles of foreign, defence and Scottish secretaries.
In a statement announcing his decision, Rifkind said: “I had intended to seek one further term as MP for Kensington, before retiring from the House of Commons. I have concluded that to end the uncertainty it would be preferable, instead, to step down at the end of this Parliament.”
Both Rifkind and Jack Straw were caught in the investigation, and deny any wrongdoing.