Keith Vaz implicated in sex scandal in UK

From Aditi Khanna London, Sep 4 (PTI) Keith Vaz, Britain’s longest servingIndian-origin MP, was today embroiled in a sex scandal after anewspaper claimed he had paid for male prostitutes. The Labour MP from Leicester since 1987, who is a marriedfather of two, paid for men to visit him one evening lastmonth at a flat he owns in London, the ‘Sunday Mirror’claimed. The 59-year-old Goan-origin MP has since announced he willbe stepping aside as chair of the influential House of CommonsHome Affairs Committee, which he has headed for the past 10years. "I am genuinely sorry for the hurt and distress that hasbeen caused by my actions, in particular to my wife andchildren. I will be informing the Committee on Tuesday of myintention to stand aside from chairing the sessions of theCommittee with immediate effect," he said in a statementreported by ‘Sky News’. It is understood that Vaz has not resigned completely buttemporarily as he speaks to his lawyer and other members ofthe committee. The committee is currently examining prostitution in theUK and had issued a report recently saying that soliciting bysex workers should be decriminalised. Vaz allegedly paid for sex with two male prostitutes andoffered to pay for a class A or banned drug, according to thenewspaper report, which is accompanied by a video. It is alleged the MP had two meetings with EasternEuropean origin escorts, including a 90-minute meeting onAugust 27. One text, reportedly sent by Vaz, said the men shouldarrive at "11 pm, nice and late". He is said to have added: "I want a good time please." Vaz is accused of asking the young men to bring poppers tothe flat, as well as allegedly joking about being a "pimp". As the talk ranged from sex to pets, Vaz eventually said:"We need to get this party started". He also spoke about having had unprotected sex. And ahead of the meeting he had sent a series of texts inwhich he jokingly called himself one of the men’s "pimp" and"bank manager". Vaz paid the escorts in cash, the report claimed. "Money was also paid into a bank account used by one ofthem by a man linked to a charity set up by the MP," it said. A Labour Party spokesperson said: "Keith Vaz has issued astatement on this matter. "As with all departmental select committees, Keith waselected to the chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee bythe House of Commons, and his position is a matter for him andthe House." PTI AK SUA AKJ  SUA