Labour MP Keith Vaz resigns from Home Affairs Committee following rent boy shocker
Parliament’s longest serving British Asian MP, Keith Vaz, has this week stood down from his position as the leader of the Commons Home Affairs Committee after images of him with male sex workers were released.
Mr Vaz said it was in the best interest of the Committee for him to resign as important work must be carried out ‘without any distractions’.
“I am genuinely sorry that recent events make it impossible for this to happen if I remain chair,” he added.
Last weekend, the Sunday Mirror published pictures which purportedly showed the father-of-two with male sex workers in a flat in north London that he owns.
Illegal drugs were mentioned during a secretly recorded conversation where he was heard to say ‘let’s get this party started’.
CCTV footage from two years ago has also shown the 59-year-old MP arriving at the Washington Mayfair in central London on 4th June, with a young man in skinny jeans. Both men are seen separately walking towards the rooms of the hotel. It is not known what they did next.
The other tapes published this week revealed Mr Vaz demanded rent boys treated him ‘like a b****’ as he took control of a late night sex party.
The Labour MP was also recorded asking the sex workers detailed questions about sex-enhancing drugs called ‘poppers’ and asked them: ‘Let me see what you do. How do you do it?’
The new recordings cast doubt over claims that the politician was drugged and set up during his liaison with rent boys on 27th August.
On Tuesday 6th September, Mr Vaz officially stood down from the Select Committee.
He said in a statement: “The integrity of the Select Committee system matters to me. Those who hold others to account, must themselves be accountable.
“I am immeasurably proud of the work the Committee has undertaken over the last nine years, and I am privileged to have been the longest serving Chair of this Committee.
“This work has included the publication of 120 reports, hearing evidence from Ministers 113 times, and hearing from a total of 1379 witnesses. I am very pleased that so many Members of the Committee have gone onto high office and Ministerial positions.
“This is my decision, and mine alone, and my first consideration has been the effect of recent events on my family.”
Just one day before Mr Vaz’s resignation, Prime Minister Theresa May said the public must have confidence in its politicians, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a ‘private matter’.
