back to article MP resigns as security committee chair amid 'cash-for-access' claims

Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind is stepping down as chair of the UK Parliament’s influential security committee in the wake of "cash for access" allegations. In a statement, Rifkind said he intends to remain a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee but will step down as chairman. The ISC, which overseas …

  1. Busby

    Is there a particular reason MP's seem to get away with resigning when this happens? In my opinion they should face charges ranging from misconduct in a public office up to treason depending on the specifics.

    But in this case Cameron is assuring everybody theres no need to crack down on outside jobs so I'm sure it will all be fine.

    1. adnim
      Unhappy

      And when they leave the service of the public...

      many seem to get jobs on the board of directors of companies that have landed lucrative government contracts. Or did I just make that up because I am a cynical old bastard that has a huge distrust of politicians?

      1. Zog_but_not_the_first
        Thumb Up

        Re: And when they leave the service of the public...

        No, you're probably a reader of Private Eye.

      2. BongoJoe

        Re: And when they leave the service of the public...

        I find it nothing short of corrupt and, perhaps, treasonous when cabinet members have interests in private medical care corporations whilst the NHS is crumbling.

      3. Rimpel

        Re: And when they leave the service of the public...

        @adnim cynicism is unnecessary... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/investigations/11430777/Jack-Straw-to-take-job-for-firm-he-lobbied-for-in-Commons.html

        1. Immenseness
          WTF?

          Re: And when they leave the service of the public...

          What really got to me about this was hearing one of them yesterday being really bullish and stating vehemently that he was appalled about his disturbing behaviour, and had referred himself to the parliamentary standards committee forthwith (or words to that effect) and didn't seem to see any problems at all with joining in the indignation that everyone else was expressing, as if it were about someone elses behaviour. I wasn't sure whether to doubt my own sanity or theirs.

      4. AbelSoul

        Re: Or did I just make that up...?

        No, you didn't just make it up but that doesn't preclude you from being "a cynical old bastard that has a huge distrust of politicians."

        I certainly am.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      > Is there a particular reason MP's seem to get away with resigning when this happens?

      Yes - so that they can immediately get elevated to the Lords without any of that messy investigation business or other scrutiny. The establishment knows how to protect its children even if the poor Lords have to subsist on a mere £300 a day with only some bribes that have to be worked for to help the poor dears.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re:Is there a particular reason MP's seem to get away with resigning when this happens?

      Because the ones that haven't been caught would like to continue raking in the money safe in the knowledge that the only punishment in the event they are also caught will be their resignation?

      Given the "standards" applied to politicians today, a quick resignation almost qualifies as honerable (for reference, see Rotherham Council).

    4. Crisp

      Re: Is there a particular reason MP's seem to get away with resigning when this happens?

      It's because they can't get fired, and we can't constitutionally vote them out of office if they don't do their job properly.

    5. The Crow From Below

      "Is there a particular reason MP's seem to get away with resigning when this happens"

      "Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few."

      George Bernard Shaw

      1. Jim 59

        "Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few." - George Bernard Shaw

        Shut up George! Winston, tell him:

        "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." - Winston Churchill

        Yeah! you torched is ass man. Torched his ass.

      2. adnim

        @The Crow from below

        I like that quote. Have an up vote

    6. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      A choice of Treason or Treason

      With all due respect for a chair of the Intelligence committee there is only one fitting charge for corruption - it is grand treason.

      Note - charge. If the charge sticks in court he gets whatever he deserves. If the charge does not, it does not.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: A choice of Treason or Treason

        But herein lies the problem - the courts are overseen by the Government. They look after themselves and change the rules to suit (by law often than not). Look at the Iraq war inquiry - going on years, and now after all this time they STILL will not release the results until it has been doctored and hammered into shape to acquit Blair and co.

    7. Triggerfish

      Yes its because there is enough of them doing it that if one falls they all fall, none of them want to risk that happening. If one of them does get done (and by that I mean not falling on sword two days before retiring and becoming a board member of various companies), then it would be a bloodletting akin to the Borgias and Plantagenets getting together.

      Note if you watch the video by the way Mr Rifkind (he doesn't deserve the Sir), says he actually earns no money. If that's the case whats happening to the taxes I paid in for his wages (81K he gets a bonus for being on def and intel commitee (14K) ) and expenses. Bastard.

      1. Roo
        Gimp

        "Note if you watch the video by the way Mr Rifkind (he doesn't deserve the Sir), says he actually earns no money. If that's the case whats happening to the taxes I paid in for his wages (81K he gets a bonus for being on def and intel commitee (14K) ) and expenses. Bastard."

        I have a hypothesis that may cover that glaring "inaccuracy", sorry I mean blatant lie. Perhaps Mr Rifkind views the money he earns as part and parcel of being an MP as "gifts", whereas the money he has to get off his arse to earn/swindle from Her Majesty's Long Suffering Tax Payers and lobbyists as earnings.

        1. The_Idiot

          Perhaps...

          ... the 'Honourable' Gentleman was being precise, and differentiating between 'I earn no money' and 'I am paid no money'. After all, and with no direct slur intended, one can be paid money, even (especially?) tax payer money without actually going to the trouble of 'earning' it...

        2. Triggerfish

          I get the feeling he regards it as such a pittance it doesn't count as money, which most of them seem to.

          Lovely coming from MPs who say £55 a week is perfectly easy to live on.

  2. Justicesays
    Unhappy

    Bribery eh?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery_Act_2010

    10 years and an unlimited fine apparently,

    Although typically big companies appear to be able to bribe ..erm.. pay off .. "Negotiate a settlement" with the government investigating them for bribery to drop the charges.

    As an MP, if a foreign company wants to present some suggestions for changes they would like to legislation in order to consider starting a business here or similar requests that might benefit the UK economy , then sure, point them to the right people, like the treasury or some under secretary somewhere, or consider sponsoring a bill yourself using their request as evidence of potential benefits.

    Just don't ask them for money for doing your job eh, we are already paying you ...

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Bribery eh?

      > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery_Act_2010

      That wouldn't that be the Bribery Act of 2010 introduced by Jack Straw would it?

  3. Hans Neeson-Bumpsadese Silver badge
    Headmaster

    over????

    "The ISC, which overseas the work of the security and intelligence agencies"

    You mean they offshore it? That's not very secure is it?

  4. Pen-y-gors

    The impressive thing about Rifkind

    is that he couldn't conceive that his activities could be morally or ethically wrong, even if they're not technically illegal (yet?). THAT is the reason why he has to go. We do not want or need politicians who cannot tell right from wrong - possibly better to have a crook who at least knows and accepts he's a wrong 'un.

    Having said that, taking money to arrange 'introductions' to government officials surely must be illegal.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: The impressive thing about Rifkind

      "Having said that, taking money to arrange 'introductions' to government officials surely must be illegal."

      Only if you're a civil servant. If you're a politician present or former (eg Brown, Blair, Straw, Rifkind, and the rest of the shower of piss) then apparently it is just fine.

      The most alarming thing is that despite the embarrassment over expenses a few short years back, and before that embarrassment over cash for questions revelations, the royalty of both parties have yet again been found to be till dipping. And I saw there was even some fucker of an MP claiming that he'd done the thick end of 2,000 hours paid work outside of Parliament - I'm sure he did that by working eighteen hour days every single Saturday and Sunday, to ensure his constituents were properly represented.

      As with bankers, politicians are simply endemically and systematically dishonest and venal, reflecting a general lack of transparency and of stern, fair handed oversight. Where else can you get away claiming expenses without so much as a receipt?

    2. MyffyW Silver badge
      Flame

      Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

      ... is that the £60K+ a year he takes home isn't enough for him or Jack Straw. In most industries that's a pretty good middle-management salary. And being an MP is about as middle-management as it gets.

      The greedy b******* need to realise they serve only with our consent. And managing on "only" £60K a year might give them some idea of what a Horlicks they've made of our economy.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

        don't forget the 11% pay rise they're getting after the election (I'm alright Jack). Whilst I and other public sector works are getting 1% if we're lucky. Of course the 2 1% pay rises we've had is more than outstripped by the rise in pension contributions so we've actually had a pay cut. Add in to that the final salary pension will be no more and our pay grade progressions are going too.

        All in all I can't see what any public sector worker would EVER vote Tory again, I won't be.

        Come the revolution

        1. codejunky Silver badge

          Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

          @AC

          "don't forget the 11% pay rise they're getting after the election (I'm alright Jack). Whilst I and other public sector works are getting 1% if we're lucky."

          The unfortunate truth is that the public sector cant have the lovely pay rises they would like, it just isnt feasible. The very people who pay for that pay rise (private sector) are not making the gains to do it. However the public sector includes the gov and those thieves need their pay cutting down to size and adjust at the same rate as the whole public sector. They should not get their large increase and removing a chunk of them from office should provide more public money to share in wages for the 'public workers' who deserve to be called that.

          You may not like the tory but labour would be no better. They would either cut you or sell your children to add more workers. This is where alternatives are needed for democracy not 2 contenders and a protest party.

          1. Alan Brown Silver badge

            Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

            "The unfortunate truth is that the public sector cant have the lovely pay rises they would like, it just isnt feasible. "

            Speaking as a public sector worker (and working flat out), from my point of view the real issue is that there are far too many public sector workers underemployed in areas of high unemployment - and that many of the actively sabotage others work in order to avoid being shown up.

            A total public sector employment rate in excess of 5-10% of all jobs in an area is toxic, but in some parts of the UK it hits 60% for central govt employment alone.

            Culling deadwood would make a huge difference to the ability to pay the people who actually perform well, but would impact badly on the final salary pensions of those who've been there for decades and are paid based on the number of people who work under them.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

          "don't forget the 11% pay rise they're getting after the election "

          Some of them won't. But after they've been "let go" by their constituents at the end of a fixed term contract, they'll be allowed to hoover up around £30k of "resettlement grant" and £40k of "winding up allowance".

          And the other great thing about being an MP is the free travel and accommodation expenses - if you or I took a five year fixed term contract in London of our own free will, HMRC would take a very dim view of our employers paying for our commuting, our second homes, and for lobbyists to pay for "fact finding" holidays, but where MP's are greedy bastards writing their own chit, it's all OK. Not to mention the obscenely generous parliamentary pension scheme, with its benefits inflated by 25% by that economically illiterate twat, Gordon Brown.

          If Rifkind can't get by on this gravy train, he should throw himself into the Thames. Let me know when and where, and I'll come to enjoy the spectacle.

          "All in all I can't see what any public sector worker would EVER vote Tory again, I won't be."

          You think it'll all work out fine under Labour? The clowns that time after time fuck up the economy, and last time round doubled the national debt, left the public spending £120bn a year in the red, allowed the banks to fuck up the economy by their rampant bad lending, and embroiled us in a decade of wars that we've still got not explanation for? Not that I'd dispute that no sane person would vote Conservative.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

            Sadly nothing new; it was the sainted Margaret who decided that the Prime Minister's pension should be calculated on the basis that the incumbent had been earning that salary for their entire career.

          2. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

            don't get me wrong I've always voted Tory I'd never vote Labour. Just won't be voting Tory again

          3. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

            I notice they had a comparison of salaries for MP's, Head Teachers, top band Civil service, etc on the BBC;s website yesterday. But what they forget to mention (as you just have) is all the perks and allowances that go on top of an MP's pay! What they should have done is used the civil service T&S model for MP's

      2. Triggerfish

        Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

        Actually its 67K plus 14K for being on the defence and intel committee, Plus an additional 270K from other companies like Unilever.

        I can only assume the 67K job is part time to give him the time to gouge out the rest.

        1. This post has been deleted by its author

        2. Alan Brown Silver badge

          Re: The depressive thing about Rifkind

          "Actually its 67K plus 14K for being on the defence and intel committee"

          Citation? The BBC was claiming he got nothing extra for being on the committee.

  5. madmax4

    The Superman defence

    Head of Intelligence fooled by blonde in a wig, no wonder he is stepping down.

    1. Chris Miller
      Facepalm

      Re: The Superman defence

      If you or I were called out of the blue for what was effectively an interview for a highly lucrative job, I think we might take 30 seconds to Google this foreign company and its apparent representative that we'd never heard of. At which point "no results found" might start a few alarm bells ringing. But not for these two bozos! Even if they can't figure out how to turn on their iPads (provided by us), presumably they have access to people who can.

      And yet they have both at one time been in charge of our foreign policy. Not exactly Viscount Palmerston material, are they?

      1. Terry 6 Silver badge

        Re: The Superman defence

        Yes, that's the really, really depressing thing.

        It was a sting, but could equally have been a dodgy government, dodgy oligarch, HSBC, anyone.

  6. Vladimir Plouzhnikov

    Why such a surprise?

    An idea that any MP has got their seat in order to live on a 50k salary seems ridiculous to me. They are ambitious and ruthless people and would not trouble themselves if the salary was the only thing they could expect out of it...

    As this cannot be avoided in some shape or form, there are two solutions that I can see -

    1) Bring it out in the open. Make them declare publicly all jobs and contracts they take out while being MPs; or

    2) Make being an MP a full-time job and pay them as much as is needed to deter them from taking money on the side. And then, if they get caught - well, that Mars colony project needs volunteers, right?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Why such a surprise?

      1) Bring it out in the open. Make them declare publicly all jobs and contracts they take out while being MPs; or

      This is the approach now ... the "House of Commons the Register of Members' Interests"

      1. Alan Brown Silver badge

        Re: Why such a surprise?

        Failure to declare isn't a crime.

        Omitting items from a declaration isn't perjury.

        Both of these need to be addressed

    2. Stuart 22

      Re: Why such a surprise?

      Well £50k would be very welcome to the majority in this country. And that for a full time job.

      This was clearly a part time job with a glorious set of perks that can be milked quite legally for kith & kin (our MP 'employs' his wife and nephew). No - I don't want him to stand for treason. Only the lawyers win and we are milked more for financing his stay at Bessie's Pleasure.

      No, we just want his unearned salary back please. This would be true justice for a man who voted for capping benefits from those less fortunate than himself.

    3. Tail Up

      Tried, not working

      Wow, Vladimir, about pt 2 I'm afraid this won't end well for the nation, as we have already an example of rising the bet and having anyhow lost the game to the Gosdu(m)a and regional snatch masters. Slingshotting them to the planet Mars (and I wish that the event would be deployed simultaneously, in a truly international spirit) seems a less phantastic enterprise...

  7. auburnman

    Re: resignation

    He hasn't resigned resigned, in the typically understood sense of the word. He's just stood down as head honcho of a committee (which he remains on.) Even though he is suspended from his party he will remain a salary drawing MP.

    In fact technically speaking MP's can't resign from their jobs due to some outdated legal bollocks from centuries ago when being an MP was so unpopular people had to be press-ganged into doing it. There are a couple of Offices of the Crown kept specifically as get-out-of-job-free cards because holding such a position disqualifies you from serving in the House of Commons.

    1. John 62

      Re: resignation

      Gerard Adams (SF, Belfast West) had to be given one of those offices when he resigned to stand for election to Dail Eireann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Adams#Election_to_D.C3.A1il_.C3.89ireann), which was a beautiful constitutional irony.

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Rifkind

    that old chestnut, I remember hearing this name in my childhood days... oh dear, perhaps he was desperate to top up his statutory pension, allegedly not sufficient to sustain life, even as a "new age traveller"... take pity on the poor man, he didn't know what he was doing!

  9. Martin
    Facepalm

    What I like....

    ...is the argument put forward, in all seriousness, that it's actually good for MPs to have other jobs apart from their own, as then they can get an idea of what the real world is like, rather than the little insular political world.

    What I want to know is, where is this "real world" where people are paid £5000 a day, and can I join it?

    1. BongoJoe

      Re: What I like....

      No, Martin. You can't.

      You went to the wrong school, you see.

  10. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

    You're 'avin a larf, mate, but it aint funny. In fact, it is quite sad these days.

    the UK Parliament’s influential security committee

    Oh, please, you cannot be serious.

  11. Florida1920
    Big Brother

    The Cousins are not going to like this

    Rifkind said he intends to remain a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee

  12. All names Taken
    Paris Hilton

    Did he take his wallet with him?

    Alternative title: Death of altruism (it never lived here anyway)?

    I reckon the Cousins are used to dealing with people handling brown paper envelopes filled with dosh but anyway ...

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Intel & Security Committee

    How come Sir Malcolm has still got his security clearance?

  14. Tromos

    Not leaving the building

    He has resigned the chairmanship, but is just moving to a different spot round the table. You could say 'One small step for Rifkind.' (Works better with a slight mispronunciation of his surname)

  15. Bob Vistakin
    Facepalm

    So there won't be a Lord Straw then?

    What a shame. Such a nice guy.

    Mind you, his father was a coward, his son a drug pusher and his brother a sex offender. Now his fiddle during the great corruption exposure is all forgotton, it's time he was left alone - after all, what harm has he done to anybody?

    1. Roj Blake Silver badge

      Re: So there won't be a Lord Straw then?

      Being corrupt never stopped anyone becoming a Lord. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see Lord Straw of Blackburn don some ermine in a couple of years.

    2. Snapper

      Re: So there won't be a Lord Straw then?

      Conscientious objectors were rarely cowards. Many served on the front-line as medics.

      Agree with the rest of the post though. Just wish we could really do that bastard Blair for war-crimes!

      1. Bob Vistakin

        Re: So there won't be a Lord Straw then?

        Others sat out the war safe and sound in jail in Blighty, whilst their fellow nationals risked their lives for them.

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    The Elite...

    They're not born with golden spoons in their mouths, they're born with a sense of total self-entitlement.... Revolving Doors... Special Interests..... Helpful Favours.... Corporate donors.... Life is just a golf game to them...

  17. theOtherJT Silver badge

    "Rifkind - who denies any impropriety"

    ...

    What world does this joker live in that he can do that with a straight face?

  18. megastream

    Much Ado

    I remember bootstrapping a PDP8 from the front panel switches, and building one of the first Altairs in Europe - so that should fix me as a correspondent of mature years.

    I'll start by repeating a previous responder - all parliamentary outside work is listed in the members interests register - i.e. it is not hidden behind closed doors.

    An MP's salary is less that a school headmaster and substantially less than a GP or Dentist.

    How on earth do you expect professional people to become MPs, while forbidding them to take on additional external work - particularly if they have served their country in one of the highest offices, and were paid at rate which would make even a junior banker sneer.

    I certainly would not consider it.

    1. Intractable Potsherd

      Re: Much Ado

      Perhaps, just perhaps, we don't want the sort of people who think that having a significant proportion of a head-teacher's salary is too little to represent the people. Most of the electorate will never see a salary well into the higher tax band (or even come close to it), so maybe their representatives should reflect that, instead of being the products of schools and universities who have never done a stroke of real work in their lives (look at the current cabinet and tell me who has done job that the people they represent can identify with). The years of being a party member deliberately kills any residual ability to actually understand who it is they represent, and what would be ethical behaviour.

      Personally, I'd have a go, but not as a party member. Standing as an independent without some sort of name (e.g. Martin Bell from some years ago) is a complete waste of time in the current system.

  19. subject

    Something is very wrong with this reporting

    If (strictly hypothetically of course) you could get 25k for hosting a parliamentary dinner, or 50k for organising one, why on earth would anyone mess around with the (relatively!) penny ante sums being mentioned in the context of Rifkind/Straw? Is a journalist just making some of this up?

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Not really "resigned" though

    He's only resigned from the chairmanship of the intelligence committee. He will still be a committee member. He's standing down as an MP at the next election - the one in May.

    From memory, based on Margaret Moran, who was caught fiddling her expenses, if you wait it out and stand down as an MP you become entitled to a large payment post-election. Whereas if you actually resign as an MP you don't.

  21. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    It's good that Malcom Rifkind remains on the sub-committee overseeing secret surveillance. After all, he now knows what it's like to be on the receiving end.

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