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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sir Malcolm Rifkind steps down as security committee chairman and as an MP | Sir Malcolm Rifkind steps down as security committee chairman and as an MP |
| (about 2 hours 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 said he may have made "errors of judgement" after being secretly recorded apparently offering his services to a private firm for cash, but denied any wrongdoing. | Sir Malcolm said he may have made "errors of judgement" after being secretly recorded apparently offering his services to a private firm for cash, but denied any wrongdoing. |
| He said he did not want the committee's work to be "distracted or affected". | He said he did not want the committee's work to be "distracted or affected". |
| Another former foreign secretary, Labour's Jack Straw, also featured in the undercover investigation by the Daily Telegraph and Channel 4's Dispatches. | Another former foreign secretary, Labour's Jack Straw, also featured in the undercover investigation by the 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' | 'Lack of support' |
| Sir Malcolm, the Conservative MP for Kensington, 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, 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. | 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 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". |
| Political career | Political career |
| Speaking after a meeting of the committee, Sir Malcolm told BBC News he did not believe the allegations against him were "justified". | Speaking after a meeting of the committee, Sir Malcolm told BBC News he did not believe the allegations against him were "justified". |
| "I did not want the work of the committee to be distracted," he said. | "I did not want the work of the committee to be distracted," he said. |
| "It's quite obvious that, fairly or unfairly, this has become an issue." | "It's quite obvious that, fairly or unfairly, this has become an issue." |
| Labour is calling on the other parties to back a motion in the Commons on Wednesday banning MPs from taking paid directorships or consultancies. | |
| A Labour spokesman said: "David Cameron once promised change but now defends a discredited status quo and has refused to follow Ed Miliband's lead. This is his chance to vote for an important measure which would help restore trust in politics." | |
| 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". | 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". | Reacting to Sir Malcolm's decision to step down, Mr Howells told Sky News he had "done the right thing". |
| During conversations 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". | During conversations 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". |
| 'Contemptible' allegations | 'Contemptible' allegations |
| Reacting to the story in the Daily Telegraph, he said his comments had been a "silly" thing to say, but questioned whether an MP's £67,000 salary was enough to attract people from a "business or professional background". | Reacting to the story in the Daily Telegraph, he said his comments had been a "silly" thing to say, but 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. | 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." | 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." |