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| Sir Malcolm Rifkind steps down as security committee chairman and as an MP | |
| (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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | Both MPs have referred themselves to Parliament's standards watchdog and both deny breaching House of Commons rules. |
| 'Lack of support' | |
| 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. | 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. |
| BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said he would have "picked up on the murmurings" about his ability to carry on as chairman and been "acutely aware of the lack of support" from Downing Street. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The committee is due to publish a report next month looking at surveillance by the intelligence agencies, and Sir Malcolm said he had decided "it is better that this important work should be presided over by a new chairman". | |
| The committee is currently holding a meeting where a replacement chairman is likely to be chosen. | |
| Sir Malcolm's predecessor, ex-Labour MP Kim Howells, had increased pressure on him by warning that the committee's work must not be "dragged down". | |
| Reacting to Sir Malcolm's decision to step down, Mr Howells told Sky News he had "done the right thing". | |
| 'Contemptible' allegations | |
| During conservations with the undercover reporters, who posed as representatives of a fictitious Chinese company, Sir Malcolm had described himself as "self-employed", saying "nobody pays me a salary". | |
| Reacting to the story in the Daily Telegraph, he questioned whether an MP's £67,000 salary was enough to attract people from a "business or professional background". | |
| Announcing his decision to leave Parliament after May's general election, Sir Malcolm said the allegations against him were "contemptible" and that 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. | "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." | "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." |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Sir Malcolm has had a long career of distinguished service both to the Conservative Party and the country. We respect and support his decision to stand down." |