The careers of two former British foreign secretaries may hang in the balance after they were caught in a cash for access scandal.

Correspondent Malcolm Stuart told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw have both been nabbed by undercover journalists posing as Chinese business representatives.

He says both were offering access to contacts for a fee.

"They've both been caught out and they've both now been suspended by their parties and it's highly likely their parliamentary careers are over."