Manchester City and England midfielder Frank Lampard is too busy to stand as a replacement Conservative MP after Sir Malcolm Rifkind’s resignation last week over the cash-for-access row.
Lampard, 36, left former club Chelsea last summer and was picked up by Man City’s New York franchise where he will move permanently in a few months.
Rifkind vacated the Kensington seat in west London, traditionally a Conservative stronghold, after a hidden-camera TV documentary filmed the 68-year-old and Labour MP Jack Straw apparently offering their services to a private firm for cash.
“Frank has football commitments for the next two years, so it was crazy to think he could try and become an MP this time,” said a source in the Mirror.
“He is in Manchester playing for City, but will move to New York in the summer. Frank was sounded out, but the Tories are now aware he just wouldn’t be able to do it.”
With the May 7 general election fast approaching all the main parties have been approaching well known public figures to help widen their appeal.
However Lampard, who earns nearly £200,000 a week meaning he pockets an MP’s annual wage in just two and a half days, decided against the sudden career change.
Main image courtesy of ITV via YouTube, with thanks.
