Keith Vaz offered to buy cocaine for two male prostitutes and have sex with him.

Male prostitute revelations

Allegations about Vaz were published by the British tabloid Sunday Mirror in early September 2016. It was reported that he had engaged in unprotected sexual activity with male prostitutes and had told them he would pay for cocaine if they wished to use it. He told the prostitutes that his name was Jim and that he was an industrial washing machine salesman. Vaz later apologised for his actions. "It is deeply troubling that a national newspaper should have paid individuals who have acted in this way", he said. Vaz resigned as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee on 6 September 2016.

At the end of October 2016, Vaz was appointed to the Justice Select Committee, after he had put himself forward and was nominated by his party. A House of Commons motion to block this development was defeated; motions of this kind are rare. According to Laura Hughes of The Daily Telegraph, Conservative Party whips told their MPs to vote for Vaz in the division to prevent a precedent being created of such appointments being rejected by MPs. Over 150 Conservative MPs voted in support of Vaz. The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen asked in the chamber of Vaz; "If the right honourable member for Leicester East found himself last month to be not fit to be chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the matters are unresolved, what makes him think that he is a fit and proper person this month?"

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Hudson, announced an investigation into Vaz's conduct. The Standards Commissioner's investigation was halted "for medical reasons" in December 2017. The inquiry recommenced in March 2018 and, in October 2019, under the stewardship of the new Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, the inquiry recommended that Keith Vaz be suspended from Parliament for six months. The inquiry report confirmed that, in her memorandum, the Commissioner had concluded "... it is more likely than not that Mr Vaz has engaged in paid sexual activity" and there was "evidence of Mr Vaz's apparent willingness to purchase controlled drugs for others to use". The Commissioner's memorandum also concluded Vaz "shows disregard for the law and that, in turn, is disrespectful to the House and fellow Members, who collectively are responsible for making those laws. Mr Vaz's conduct has also been disrespectful of the House's system of standards. He has not "co-operated at all stages" with the investigation process. He has failed, repeatedly, to answer direct questions; he has given incomplete answers and his account has, in parts, been incredible". On 31 October 2019, MPs voted in favour of the suspension.

Police have dropped an investigation into Labour MP Keith Vaz after allegations about his private life were made in a Sunday Mirror story.

Mr Vaz, 59, quit as Home Affairs Select Committee chairman in September 2016 after the paper claimed he paid for the services of two male escorts.

According to the newspaper, the MP indicated to one of the men that he would pay for cocaine, although he said he would not use the drug himself.

No-one has been charged, police said.

The Metropolitan Police Service's special enquiry team began an assessment process to see "what criminal offences - if any - may have been committed".

*Secret recordings*

On Friday, a force spokesman said: "Following that assessment, which included obtaining early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, the MPS started an investigation in November.

"During the investigation new information was received and additional advice obtained from the CPS, following which the MPS has made the decision to close the investigation with no person being charged."

The Sunday Mirror story in September included photographs and secret recordings it said were of Mr Vaz with the sex workers in a north London flat that he owns.

Drugs, including cocaine, were mentioned during a secretly-recorded conversation.

The recording also included a discussion about using a party drug known as poppers.

*True facts*

Mr Vaz had opposed government attempts to criminalise the drug. Ministers later announced it would remain within the law.

Following the initial allegations, Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said he would be writing to Scotland Yard calling for Mr Vaz to be investigated for misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to supply controlled substances.

Scotland Yard launched an investigation last month after receiving a letter asking officers to look into the matter.

Mr Vaz, the Leicester East MP and a married father-of-two, resigned as chairman of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee two days after the Sunday Mirror's report.

He previously said in a statement: "I welcome a full investigation as a means of establishing the true facts and I am confident the police will pursue all lines of enquiry.

"I will cooperate with the investigation in any way I can."