Keith Vaz banned from Parliament for 6 months – but may only serve two-day suspension
2 min read
Keith Vaz has been banned from Parliament for six months – but could still stand for Labour in December’s snap election.
And the veteran MP may only serve two days of the suspension if he is returned as the member for Leicester East at the upcoming poll.
The Committee on Standards recommended the record suspension after Mr Vaz was found to have offered to buy cocaine for two male escorts
That was upheld by the Commons on Thursday, but Labour has yet to decide whether to remove the party whip or if he will be prevented from standing in his seat on 12 December.
In the Commons, Labour chief whip Nick Brown said it is a "sad day for us", but that they fully accepted the report by the Standards Committee into Mr Vaz's actions.
Labour's ruling national executive committee, which Mr Vaz is a member of, is due to discuss his case this week.
The Standards Committee report into Mr Vaz said there was "compelling evidence" he offered to pay for a class A drug and paid for sex.
It also said he was "evasive or unhelpful" during the investigation into allegations he met two men at his London flat, claiming they came round to discuss its redecoration.
But the cross-party committee said Mr Vaz's explanation, in which he reportedly posed as an industrial washing machine salesman, was "not believable and ludicrous".
The MP released a statement saying he had cooperated at all stages of the inquiry and was now receiving treatment for a serious mental health condition.
Mr Vaz said he had been admitted to hospital on Monday, and was not present in the Commons on Thursday.
The six-month suspension was approved by the Commons, but it only applies to this current Parliament - which is due to be dissolved next Tuesday ahead of the election.
It means Mr Vaz would only miss two sitting days if he retains his seat.
The standards committee’s chair Kate Green said she had written to ask the leader of the House in the next Parliament to bring forward the suspension again so he would have to serve it then.
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said he would so, but with the outcome of the election uncertain there is no guarantee he will be in a position to.
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