KEITH VAZ INDICTED, FACES SUSPENSION

LONDON: Keith Vaz, the longest serving Indian-origin MP, was on Monday indicted by a parliamentary committee for involvement in a drugs-for-male-sex-workers scandal revealed in a widely publicised sting operation in 2016.

The Committee on Standards ruled that Vaz, Labour MP from Leicester East since 1987, caused ‘significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole’, and recommended a six-month suspension.

It noted that the suspension, if agreed by the House, will trigger the provisions of the Recall of MPS Act 2015 and require a recall petition to be opened in Vaz’s constituency.

Vaz, 62, was the chairman of the influential Home Affairs Committee when the scandal was reported by Sunday Mirror tabloid . He resigned following questions about conflict of interest about the work of the committee and issues that figured in the sting operation. The committee found Vaz acted in breach of para 16 of the House of Commons Code of Conduct, which says: “Members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its Members generally”.

It said Vaz “disregarded” the law by “expressing a willingness” to supply cocaine to two male prostitutes, adding there was “compelling evidence” he procured a class A drug and had paidfor sex in August 2016.

The watchdog said Vaz’s claim that he had met the men to discuss the redecoration of his flat was “ludicrous”.