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MP Griffiths to quit at election MP Griffiths to quit at election
(10 minutes later)
Labour politician Nigel Griffiths has announced he will quit as as MP for Edinburgh South at the next election. Former Labour minister Nigel Griffiths has announced he will quit as MP for Edinburgh South at the next election.
The former minister, who has held the seat for 23 years, said he was leaving the Commons to take up a directorship at an educational institution. Mr Griffiths, who has held the marginal seat for 23 years, said he was leaving the Commons to take up a "once in a lifetime job offer".
Labour paid tribute to Mr Griffiths as one of Scotland most experienced parliamentarians. The politician was recently hit with allegations about his private life and the Westminster expenses scandal.
He last year said he was ashamed after the News of the World reported he cheated on his wife inside the Commons. Labour paid tribute to Mr Griffiths as one of Scotland's most experienced parliamentarians.
And the party moved quickly to declare Labour support in Edinburgh South - which is being targeted by the other main parties in the forthcoming election - was "strong and growing".
Mr Griffiths, whose new post as director of an international education institution based in London, the United States and India, starts in June, said he firmly believed Labour would hold the seat.
'New candidate'
The former councillor said: "After 30 years of continuously elected service in Edinburgh, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
"It would not be right to delay accepting this position, since I want to give the party time to select a new candidate to fight the forthcoming election."
Mr Griffiths last year escaped a standards investigation after the News of the World reported he cheated on his wife inside the House of Commons.
In a statement following the newspaper's account of events on Remembrance Day in 2008 he said at the time: "I am, of course, ashamed that my conduct did fall below acceptable standards. I have little recollection of the evening but that does not make it right."
Last summer it was reported Mr Griffiths tried to defend a £3,600 claim for a television, DVD player and digital radio in his London home by saying he had to listen to "Scottish radio" and watch "Scottish TV".
He was said to have told the Commons fees office a flat-screen television was the "sensible option" in a cramped flat, but did not pursue the claim after being told that, while the explanation was understandable, the "level of purchases" remained under question.