Scots Labour MP standing down

Former minister Nigel Griffiths yesterday announced he is quitting the House of Commons after more than two decades.

The Labour MP for Edinburgh South said he will not be standing in the general election after being offered a “once-in-a-lifetime” job opportunity.

Last year he was spared a standards investigation after he reportedly cheated on his wife in the Commons.

The MP said then that his behaviour had “fallen below acceptable standards” and expressed his “shame” after it was claimed he had a tryst with a woman in his Commons office on Remembrance Day 2008.

A complaint was made to Westminster’s standards commissioner, John Lyon, but the sleaze watchdog later confirmed he would not be investigating the matter.

Mr Griffiths, who became a MP in 1987, held a number of government posts, including minister for construction, minister for competition and consumer affairs, and minister for enterprise.

In 2005 he became the deputy leader of the Commons but quit the role two years later to vote against the government on Trident.

Last summer he reportedly tried to defend a £3,600 claim for a television, DVD player and digital radio in his London home, saying he had to listen to “Scottish radio” and watch “Scottish TV”.

When the fees office told him the level of purchases was questionable, the MP did not pursue the claim.

Yesterday he explained why he is standing down in a seat the Tories are targeting.

Mr Griffiths said he had been offered a post as director of an international education institution based in London, the United States and India.

The former councillor said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It would not be right to delay accepting this position, since I want to give the party time to select a new candidate to fight the forthcoming election.”

Mr Griffiths said he “firmly” believes Labour will hold the seat at the election.

A Labour Party spokesman described Mr Griffiths as “one of the most experienced parliamentarians in Scotland”.

Mr Griffiths is the eighth Labour MP to jump ship before the general election is called and follows the decision to retire of Mr John McFall, Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire and chairman of the Commons Treasury Committee .

Earlier, former defence secretary and former Scottish secretary John Reid, MP for Airdrie and Shotts and now chairman of Celtic Football Club, and Defence Minister Adam Ingram, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, both decided it was time to go along with subsequent defence and Scottish Secretary Des Browne, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun.

Other departees include Mohamed Sarwar, MP for Glasgow Central, former Labour treasurer Gavin Strang, MP for Edinburgh East, and Jim Devine, who briefly replaced former foreign secretary Robin Cook as MP for Livingston.

Western Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil said: “It is clear Labour MPs are desperate to get off (Gordon) Brown’s sinking ship.

“Any way you look at this the Labour Party is in a bad way and experienced MPs are backing away from Brown as fast as they can, cashing in with consultancies and private sector contracts instead of staying to support their constituents.”

Meanwhile last night current Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy welcomed three new candidates to his general election team – former Scottish Parliament Labour leader Cathy Jamieson, to replace Mr Browne, Michael McCann to replace Mr Ingram and Graeme Morrice, to replace Mr Devine.

Mr Murphy said they are “three excellent candidates who will be fighters for Scotland”.