Rifking Has Fallen On His Sword.

[sandyRoe]

Could he have honourably done anything else?

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/cash-for-access-rifkind-steps-down-as-mp/ar-BBhUCeL

[Jackdaw33]

I suspect that neither Rifkind nor Straw will be going to the HoL, unprecedented for former Foreign Secretaries.

[mikey4444]

I don't really care why Rifkind has decided to resign....I am just glad he has. I heard him on the Today Program and he just dug that hole he has fallen into even deeper than it already was.

Now perhaps Straw will do the same and we can get back to things that really matter.

[andy-hughes]

I would love to have been a fly on the wall and seen just who it was, and what they said to complete a volte face so sudden that must have made Rifkind's eyes water!

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31603202

Watch this link and see Rifkind giving about 02:33 of complete and utter BS and waffle ! He has resigned but he is still digging that hole it would seem !

What a pillock !

[andy-hughes]

It beggars belief doesn't it!

The idea that Rifkind is concerned that his constituency has to 'suddenly' find another candidate!

If the local chairman opened the door and whispered "Does anyone fancy standing for MP..." he'd be trampled in the rush - so the idea that they couldn't muster up a candidate is so facile as to defy belief.

Rifkind continues to treat the media, and by extention the public, as though they are daft enough to swallow any old guff he gives them.

As I said, that must contrast with whatever conversation has made him stand down as an MP in the safest seat in the country - when he advised he was standing for another term.

[Farriercm]

Trouble here is that when Rifkind goes ,that will be one Tory less with his snout in the trough but there will be another Dozen of them leaving the Tory boys school Eton, waiting to get their snouts in the trough and climb aboard the gravy train.They just can not help it can they.

[corylus]

Can't trust any of them can we?

[baza]

We had a problem with a pig farmer from Haningfield who spent money that was not his own, did time for it and was soon back in the Lords fiddling his expenses. There is a lot of it about.

[tonyav]

Sir Malcolm say's 'Unrealistic for MP's to live on £67,000'.
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/cash-for-access-scandal-sir-malcolm-rifkind-says-unrealistic-for-mps-to-live-on-%C2%A367000/ar-BBhSs3T

[andy-hughes]

tonyav - "
Sir Malcolm say's 'Unrealistic for MP's to live on £67,000'."

I would not for one minute wish to defend this odious man, but he has a point - although he expressed it badly.

What he means is, that although £67,000 is a fortune to the average working person, in terms of the sort of salary that he could earn - and no doubt will now in the future - is considerably higher than an MP's salary.

The Conservative argument is - if you want people who can earn large salaries in the private sector to work as MP's for what is effectively a large pay cut, then you must allow them to top up their salaries with external consultancies and directorships and so on.

So the point is there - seriously clumsily expressed by a man with more than enough experience to know better than to be so arrogant as to effectively say that he is worth far more than an MP is paid.

Well, he will have the chance to go and earn a fat private salary now - although how much use he is as a disgraced and booted out MP remains to be seen.

My own view is that I am very keen for my MP to pick up lots of experience - but unlike Mr Cameron, I want him to do that by being my MP, because that is what I voted for him to do. Every minute he is off doing work outside, he is not being my MP, and not doing the job he undertook when he came asking for my vote.

My communication skills for BT could be vastly enhanced if I had two days a week off to write a biography of Napalm Death, but somehow I don't think they'll go for it!!

[tonyav]

Andy, that's the thing though isn't it there doesn't seem to be any set hours for MP's ( ie 37 hours a week ). Although I'm sure many would argue that they put many more hours than that in per week !.

[andy-hughes]

tonyav - "Although I'm sure many would argue that they put many more hours than that in per week !."

That's true - but teachers do the same, for a lot less reward.

I think that there are some jobs that you are going to decide to do because they fulfil you as a person, and make you happy, and for that, you undertake to forego the rewards you could receive in other sectors of employment.

I think MP's have short but very intense concentrated periods of work with long hours away from home, but they are balanced by long periods of less pressure, and more normal hours, you only have to look at the length of parliamentary sessions to see the truth of that.

[sivam]

On another planet. Didn t have a salary!!!! Only the taxpayer for years and years.

[anneasquith]

don't forget m.p.'s still get expenses over and above their salary,

[barney15c]

Well, he will have the chance to go and earn a fat private salary now - although how much use he is as a disgraced and booted out MP remains to be seen.


It didn't do former HMRC boss Dave Hartnett any harm at all that he was effectively disgraced who was giving sweetheart deals to Vodaphone etc over their Tax avoidance activities. Indeed he works for HSBC as an advisor on honesty. You couldn't make it up!!!