Quit justice panel, Vaz is told

THE former solicitor general has called for senior Labour MP Keith Vaz to stand down from the Commons justice committee until police finish a probe into drugs claims.

Sir Edward Garnier said it was ‘inappropriate’ for the Leicester East MP to stay on the committee overseeing the justice system as Scotland Yard investigated.

Sir Edward, whose Harborough, Oadby and Wigston constituency is near Mr Vaz’s, said: ‘This is the justice select committee – it is not the drawing pins committee or the paperclips committee. It is not appropriate for an MP under investigation by the police to be on the committee.’ Police announced this weekend that they would investigate allegations, made by the Sunday Mirror, that Mr Vaz had offered to buy cocaine for two male prostitutes.

The MP reportedly said he would not use the drug himself but the discussion allegedly included the party drug known as poppers. Mr Vaz opposed a failed government attempt to criminalise the drug.

He resigned as chairman of the Commons home affairs committee in September after the scandal emerged. But he surprised Westminster by putting himself forward to become a member of the justice committee. Government ministers backed him after a whip was imposed.

Andrew Bridgen, a Tory MP whose constituency also neighbours Mr Vaz’s, forced the MP’s appointment to a Commons vote. Yesterday, the MP, who wrote to Scotland Yard to call for Mr Vaz to be investigated, said: ‘I did warn it would not be long before politicians would regret aligning their vote for Keith Vaz. He must stand down.’

Scotland Yard said it had received a letter on September 7 before assessing the case. A spokesman said: ‘Following that assessment, which included obtaining early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan Police Service is now investigating offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.’

In a statement, Mr Vaz said: ‘I welcome a full investigation as a means of establishing the true facts...’

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