LABOUR MP Keith Vaz has resigned as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee after a third day of allegations around his use of prostitutes and drugs.
The decision by the veteran politician came after a report in the Sunday Mirror alleged that he had paid for the services of two male sex workers, and had also offered to pay for cocaine. In a statement released earlier yesterday afternoon, Vaz said remaining as chair would be a “distraction” from the committee’s work.
“The integrity of the select committee system matters to me. Those who hold others to account, must themselves be accountable,” he said.
Vaz’s resignation as chair means there will now be an election in October, with MPs from all parties having a vote.
Tory MP Tim Loughton will act as interim chair until then. At a press conference with the other committee members he paid tribute to Vaz, saying the Leicester MP had given “a very frank account of what had happened”.
“The committee listened, I think in sadness, to what Keith had to say and with a good deal of respect. Keith has clearly acted in the best interests of the home affairs select committee and the important work that we do. And with sadness we all accepted that that was the appropriate course of action that he has taken. And we also appreciate the many challenges facing him personally and his family.”
Yesterday’s papers brought more allegations about Vaz’s use of sex workers, with the Sun claiming the MP had a history of paying for intimacy with male prostitutes.
The Mirror defended their story after friends of Vaz claimed the politician had been drugged and was not in control. The paper released extracts of recording from the night which they claimed showed the politician knew exactly what he was doing with the two eastern European male sex workers.
Although Vaz has resigned from the Home Affairs committee, the MP is still a member of Labour’s ruling NEC.
Speaking at a joint conference with reggae band UB40, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the body would be discussing Vaz’s membership when they meet next week. Corbyn said: “He’s made that decision himself. I just heard that before I came in that he’s resigned as chair of the Home Affairs committee, and I think we should leave it at that point.
“Whatever else comes out of this will be a matter of him and others, not me.”
Corbyn’s rival in the leadership contest Owen Smith said he thought Vaz had “done the right thing”.
He told the BBC’s The World At One: “I don’t think he could have continued in that role. I’m pleased he’s done what I think we all expected he would do and has stood down.”
It follows comments from the Prime Minister, speaking at the G20 summit in China, who had hinted that she thought Vaz should go: “What has been clear throughout my political career, and what is important for people, is that they feel they are able to have confidence in their politicians, and that is what we have a duty to apply for those who elect us.
“What Keith does is for Keith and any decisions he wishes to make are for him. But overall, what people want is confidence in their politicians.”
There was some support for Vaz from former Mayor or London, Ken Livingstone, who is currently suspended from the Labour Party.
Livingstone said Vaz should stay, claiming prostitution was fairly widespread.
“What I find particularly ridiculous about this is I can recall being at Labour party conferences and watching a journalist there going up to their hotel room with prostitutes they picked up from the street,” Livingstone said.
“All across our society there are people who pay for sex – I don’t approve of that, I don’t do it myself but I don’t think it’s illegal.”
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