Keith Vaz could face an investigation by the Commons sleaze watchdog over allegations he paid two male escorts for sex
Labour MP says he will step aside as chairman of the powerful Home Affairs Committee after apologising to his wife
EMBATTLED Labour MP Keith Vaz could face a possible investigation by the House of Commons sleaze watchdog as the fall-out from reports he paid two male escorts for sex threatens to overwhelm his career.
He has indicated he will stand aside as chairman of the powerful Home Affairs Committee after publicly apologising to his wife and children for the "hurt and distress" he caused them.
But the 59-year-old’s future hangs in the balance after Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he would write to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards regarding his conduct.
Mr Vaz met the escorts at a flat he owns near his family home in North London last month, according to reports in the Sunday Mirror.
The newspaper also claimed money was paid into an account used by one of them by a man linked to a charity set up by the MP.
The Charity Commission said the regulator would consider becoming involved in the matter if it felt such action was needed.
A spokesman said: "The Charity Commission is aware of the allegations made regarding an individual linked to the charity Silver Star.
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"The commission has asked journalists to forward any details and evidence they have in order to determine whether there is a regulatory role for the commission."
There is no suggestion in the newspaper report the charity's money was used in the affair.
The Sunday Mirror also claimed Mr Vaz had a conversation regarding cocaine with one of the escorts in which the MP said he did not want to use the drug, but indicated he would pay for it for the other man at a later date.
The veteran MP also asked the escort to bring the party drug poppers with him for the encounter, according to the report.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn indicated there was no need for Mr Vaz to stand down from the Labour Party, stating: "Well, he hasn't committed any crime that I know of. As far as I'm aware it is a private matter, and I will obviously be talking to Keith."
In a statement, Mr Vaz said: "It is deeply disturbing that a national newspaper should have paid individuals to have acted in this way.
“I have referred these allegations to my solicitor Mark Stephens of Howard Kennedy who will consider them carefully and advise me accordingly.
"At this time I do not want there to be any distraction from the important work the Home Affairs Select Committee undertakes so well.”