Keith Vaz: Another leading MP’s career is over because he thought he could do what he liked
![Keith Vaz is the chairman of the Commons' Home Affairs committee, which (among other things) examines prostitution law [Image: PA].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/160904-Keith-Vaz.jpg)
Keith Vaz is the chairman of the Commons’ Home Affairs committee, which (among other things) examines prostitution law [Image: PA].
This Writer observed his conduct during that committee’s inquiry into alleged anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and it seemed needlessly partisan; he seemed to have decided that the accused MPs were guilty before any allegedly fact-finding questioning took place.
Now he is involved in a scandal of his own. The details are here and here.
He is another example of an MP who thought he could do what he wanted, with impunity – and now he is discovering that it isn’t true.
How many more are still getting away with it, though?
More importantly, the revelations about his personal life must lead to an investigation into some of the decisions made by the Home Affairs committee on prostitution and his conduct with reference to other allegations of sexual offences.
How can anyone trust his demand that prostitutes’ clients should be free from prosecution when he is, himself, one such client?
Then there are allegations about child sex that Mr Vaz seems to have tried to stifle. Greville Janner springs to mind.
It seems that some of the mud is finally starting to stick to the man once dubbed the ‘Teflon’ MP.
Keith Vaz looks set to quit a powerful role which looked at prostitution policy after his meetings with prostitutes were revealed.
A statement was attributed to the veteran Labour MP today after the Sunday Mirror told how he asked two male escorts to bring poppers to his flat and said: “We need to get this party started.”
The married MP for Leicester East since 1987 is a member of Labour’s ruling NEC, and chairs Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee which led an inquiry into prostitution earlier this year.
An interim report led by Mr Vaz in July said soliciting by sex workers should be decriminalised because they were being “penalised and stigmatised”.
A statement given to the Mail on Sunday 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.”
Source: Keith Vaz to quit powerful Home Affairs committee role over revelations about his sex life
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Sorry for my sense of humour, but, this expose reminds me a joke:
‘Have you heard the one about the MP & the hookers?’
Like many of our Parliamentarians Keith just got too big for his own boots. The whole place needs clearing out and reforming afresh.
i thought Keith would have above all of that sort of nonsense so like most people we will be surprised to learn of this
The main problem here thou is if you cant trust the likes of Keith Vaz then who could you trust ?
My references from the bank of england state very clearly that i am gifted and of high honesty and integrity ?
The trouble is tho was the person who wrote it at my level himself ?
of which we will never know as he has passed away but was distinguished himself in the city when alive
when in all decency he became deluded that he could have his cake and eat nah people who cant keep it in their trousers then they need not be mps but we now mps want monies and sex hmm it all boils down to that law in the bible yet they cant be able to preach to peasants but go them selves the otherway ops
I’m entirely behind Corbyn and believe entirely in the media/PLP attempt to undermine democracy.
However, this particular article feels like point scoring.
Legalisation of prostitution is quite a popular opinion. It has certainly been popular enough to have warranted serious discussion and research within British politics and is of course a legal activity in some other European countries.
So what do you mean ‘he thought he could do what he liked?’. Unless the prostitutes have been trafficked or are working against their will then it’s simply a transaction between consenting adults. It would be relevant to talk about the equality imbalance between rich and poor that means poor people have less choices and are more likely to do certain undesirable jobs in order to pay the rent but the article isn’t doing that.
It’s not just standing aside but he needs to be out of parliament.
“How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle.”
He must also be charged with ‘Abuse’ of high office, as his role on the committee was certainly compromised by his activities, and wouldn’t put it past him to claim his costs out of his expense account!
He is not sorry for what he did, he is sorry he got caught. Hypocrite!
There’s only one who can stop the so called indestructible privileged, that’s Corbyn..