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Rifkind steps down as security committee chairman | Rifkind steps down as security committee chairman |
(35 minutes later) | |
Sir Malcolm Rifkind is stepping down as chairman of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee after criticism over "cash-for-access" claims. | |
The former foreign secretary is also standing down as a Conservative MP. | |
Sir Malcolm denies any wrongdoing after being secretly recorded apparently offering his services to a private firm for cash. | |
He said the controversy did not relate to the committee but did not want its work to be "distracted or affected". | |
Another former foreign secretary, Labour's Jack Straw, also featured in the undercover investigation by Daily Telegraph and Channel 4's Dispatches. | |
Both MPs have referred themselves to Parliament's standards watchdog and both deny breaching House of Commons rules. | |
Sir Malcolm, the Conservative MP for Kensington and Chelsea, had previously said he would not stand down as security committee chairman, unless his colleagues wanted him to. | |
In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, he said while he would remain a member of the committee, he would step down from the chairmanship. | |
He also said the allegations against him were "contemptible" saying he had previously planned to seek one further term as an MP. | |
"I have concluded that to end the uncertainty it would be preferable, instead, to step down at the end of this Parliament," 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." |