Keith Vaz: Married Labour MP quits role after being caught 'paying male prostitutes for sex at London flat'

Robin de Peyer4 September 2016
WEST END FINAL

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Labour MP Keith Vaz has stood down from his high-profile role as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee after being exposed apparently paying men for sex.

The married MP is alleged to have met two Eastern European men for sex and boasted about sleeping with a prostitute without protection.

Father-of-two Mr Vaz also offered to cover the cost of cocaine if it were bought to the London flat where he met the men, though he did not want any himself, the Sunday Mirror reported.

In his high-profile position as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Mr Vaz takes a leading role in monitoring crime and drugs policy. The Committee is currently overseeing a major shake-up of Britain’s laws on prostitution.

Last night, the former Europe Minister announced he would step down from chairing the Committee after the allegations. A friend was quoted as saying he may remain a Committee member if he had enough support among MPs.

Keith Vaz parties at Labour conference in 2014 (Jeremy Selwyn)

Mr Vaz, who has represented the Leicester East constituency since 1987, is alleged to have tried to conceal his identity from the two escorts by telling them he was a washing machine salesman.

He reportedly said: “These are industrial washing machines that I sell. Industrial. For big – for hotels.”

He is also alleged to have said: “We need to get this party started” during the course of the 90 minute meeting at a flat near his family home in Edgware on August 27.

Keith Vaz at a Labour conference party in 2015 
Jeremy Selwyn

The day before, Mr Vaz reportedly texted one of the escorts to request they bring a legal sex drug with them. “Try and pick up some poppers,” he is said to have written.

Asked what he wanted by a man in a conversation by text message, Mr Vaz allegedly responded: "You. I'm getting very horny".

During a conversation about another man, the MP is also alleged to have said: "He was OK. He forgot the condom though. I had to f*** him without a condom."

Asked if he knew the man was free of sexually transmitted diseases, Mr Vaz reportedly said: “I didn’t know”.

The three men are also said to have examined pictures of men on gay dating app Grindr during the rendezvous.

Shown a picture of an Asian man, Mr Vaz allegedly responded: “He is fit”. Browsing another user’s profile, the newspaper reported that he said: “Find out where he is…”

After the Sunday Mirror published voice recordings of the alleged encounter, a friend of Mr Vaz accepted he had been foolish but claimed the MP was a victim of a newspaper sting.

In a statement to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Vaz said: “I am genuinely sorry for the hurt and distress that has been caused by my actions in particular to my wife and children.

"I will be informing the Committee on Tuesday of my intention to stand aside from chairing the sessions of the Committee with immediate effect."

The Evening Standard has contacted Mr Vaz for comment.

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