British MP to retire after ‘cash for access’ sting
25 Feb 2015 10:29 PM GMT
A senior British lawmaker on Tuesday announced his retirement from Parliament and quit as the chairman of an influential parliamentary security committee after he was secretly filmed offering his services to a fictitious Chinese company in return for thousands of pounds.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind also stepped down as chair of the House of Commons’ Intelligence and Security Committee and said he would not be contesting another election as Member of Parliament.
“I have concluded that to end the uncertainty it would be preferable to step down at the end of this Parliament. This is entirely my personal decision,” Rifkind said in a statement.
“I have had no such requests from my constituency association but I believe that it is the right and proper action to take,” Malcolm said.
He, however, continues to deny any wrongdoing and said the allegations against him were “contemptible”.
The British Parliament will be dissolved on March 30 in preparation for the General Election scheduled for May 7.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind also stepped down as chair of the House of Commons’ Intelligence and Security Committee and said he would not be contesting another election as Member of Parliament.
“I have concluded that to end the uncertainty it would be preferable to step down at the end of this Parliament. This is entirely my personal decision,” Rifkind said in a statement.
“I have had no such requests from my constituency association but I believe that it is the right and proper action to take,” Malcolm said.
He, however, continues to deny any wrongdoing and said the allegations against him were “contemptible”.
The British Parliament will be dissolved on March 30 in preparation for the General Election scheduled for May 7.
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