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| Straw and Rifkind deny 'cash for access' wrongdoing | Straw and Rifkind deny 'cash for access' wrongdoing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two former foreign secretaries have been secretly filmed apparently offering their services to a private company for thousands of pounds. | Two former foreign secretaries have been secretly filmed apparently offering their services to a private company for thousands of pounds. |
| Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind are the subject of the allegations, arising from a joint investigation by the Daily Telegraph and Channel 4's Dispatches. | Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind are the subject of the allegations, arising from a joint investigation by the Daily Telegraph and Channel 4's Dispatches. |
| The documentary makers said reporters posed as staff of a fake Chinese firm. | The documentary makers said reporters posed as staff of a fake Chinese firm. |
| The MPs have referred themselves to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Both deny any wrongdoing. | The MPs have referred themselves to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Both deny any wrongdoing. |
| It is claimed that Mr Straw was recorded describing how he operated "under the radar" and had used his influence to change EU rules on behalf of a firm which paid him £60,000 a year. | |
| On the subject of payment, Mr Straw allegedly said: "So normally, if I'm doing a speech or something, it's £5,000 a day, that's what I charge." | |
| Sir Malcolm is reported to have claimed he could arrange "useful access" to every British ambassador in the world. | |
| The Conservative MP for Kensington and chairman of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee is also allegedly heard saying: "Nobody pays me a salary." | |
| Labour said it was aware of the "disturbing allegations" against Mr Straw, who had "agreed the best course of action is to suspend himself from the Parliamentary Labour Party". | Labour said it was aware of the "disturbing allegations" against Mr Straw, who had "agreed the best course of action is to suspend himself from the Parliamentary Labour Party". |
| Sir Malcolm told the BBC: "Channel 4 have confirmed in writing that I made clear that I would not assist any company to acquire information that was not already public. | |
| "Trying to influence a decision or to receive privileged information would be improper." | |
| Asked if he thought the allegations had any bearing on his role as security committee chairman, he said: "None whatsoever." |