Watchdog to investigate Keith Vaz amid claims ‘escort’ cash came from associate tied to his charity
VICE-scandal MP Keith Vaz is facing a charity watchdog probe over claims he paid for sex with male escorts.
It comes amid allegations that the cash came from an associate linked to the Labour veteran's own charity.
Last night married father-of-two Vaz, 59, was fighting for his political future after claims he met two Eastern European prostitutes at his London flat, and offered to cover the cost of buying cocaine if it was brought along.
The Charity Commission will probe claims a man linked to Vaz’s diabetes charity Silver Star settled at least part of the escorts’ bill.
Two deposits of £150 were paid into a bank account, including one on August 5 with the reference “painting”.
There is no suggestion the man knew the money might be being used to pay for sex.
Vaz allegedly told the escorts his name was Jim and he was a washing machine salesman.
It is claimed he also told them to buy poppers—a drug used to enhance sex—for the session on August 27 having campaigned to keep them legal. Silver Star carries out mobile testing for diabetes and had funds of more than £500,000 in 2014.
A former trustee of Silver Star, Dr Malde Modhsvadia, said: “We want to know if something improper is going on so we can take action.”
It boasts Esther Rantzen as a patron on its website. But last night the TV star denied being involved.
She said: "They haven't asked me to do anything since I launched an awareness campaign for diabetes quite some time ago."
The Charity Commission declined to comment. A Commission source said: “It is not yet clear whether charitable funds have been used inappropriately.”
Mr Vaz also allegedly offered to fund the buying of cocaine.
Tory MPs yesterday demanded police and Parliamentary investigations.
But incredibly, last night Mr Vaz was refusing to step down as chair of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, which probes drugs and vice issues and is currently reviewing prostitution laws.
He even blamed his exposure on a Press sting.
A sheath snapped at Vaz's flat as the escorts arrived
Video footage showed the MP, a Minister for Europe under Tony Blair, relaxing on a sofa chatting to the East European escorts at his flat in Edgware, North West London.
He had at least two meetings with them, according to the Sunday Mirror.
In one 90-minute session on August 27, he offered to cover the cost of cocaine if it was brought up to the flat. But he did not want it himself.
The day before the meeting he texted the escort: “Try and pick up some poppers.”
When told a Romanian escort may join them for a “foursome”, Mr Vaz replied in a text: “How will this work, do you want me to f*** him first or all together.”
The MP, who went to Luton Airport to welcome arrivals on the day Romania became a full EU member in 2014, told the escorts: “We like Eastern Europeans, they’re nice.”
At one point, the Labour veteran, married with two children, told the prostitutes he was getting “very horny” and talked about having sex without a condom.
When one said he was nervous about four-way sex, Mr Vaz said: “Oh, s***. Oh, my God. You have to join in.”
He then began surfing gay dating app Grindr with the escorts hunting for other men nearby who could join in.
He even told the escorts to offer the men £50 to tempt them to take part.
The meetings were in the flat which he bought in June for £387,500 without a mortgage.
During the sessions he claimed his name was Jim and he worked as an industrial washing machine salesman.
But one of the escorts recognised him from TV. In a Commons debate in February, the MP spoke of his “great surprise” that MPs used poppers and that he opposed liberalising the drug laws.
And earlier this summer during a Committee review into prostitution, he said he was not convinced men paying for sex should face prosecution.
After details of his liaisons emerged yesterday, 59-year-old Mr Vaz issued a statement apologising to his family.
It also said he would inform the Committee on Tuesday of his intention to stand aside from chairing sessions.
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However hours later, Mr Vaz is understood to have told pals he believed he can keep his post as Committee chair by handing over control temporarily and returning when the scandal washes over.
One source said the Labour veteran wants to “do a Tim Yeo” — the Tory who stood aside as chair of the Energy Select Committee in 2013 while he was investigated for breaching lobbying rules.
The insider told the Sun: “Keith feels that by handing over control temporarily, the Committee won’t have to be distracted from its work by spending a load of time on an election to find a successor.
“Instead someone else on the Committee would just fill in until he’s ready to come back when it all washes over.
“He keeps talking about how Cameron plunged the Government into chaos by resigning abruptly — and he can’t do that to the Committee.”
But one member last night said: “He’ll have to go.” Another told the Sun: “Just look at what’s alleged to have happened? We have oversight of the police and he’s talking about poppers and cocaine. He can’t stay on.”
But it is understood MPs on the Committee will demand he goes in face-to-face talks.
Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen went further last night by demanding Mr Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East since 1987, is booted out of the House of Parliament altogether. The Tory MP for nearby Leicester West, said: “We need a full police inquiry into his affairs and he also needs to be referred to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. It is my belief that he is not a fit and proper person to be a Member of Parliament.”
He added: “Other MPs have lost their jobs for far less.”
Mr Bridgen has called on the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner twice in the past two years to investigate Mr Vaz, who earns £89,951 a year.
But he said he was blanked on both occasions. It is also thought he has raised the issue with Commons Speaker John Bercow.
As chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee for the past nine years, Mr Vaz held the Government to account for its failings on immigration, border checks and police cuts.
All calls to him yesterday were directed straight to his lawyers.
He has told friends the claims are untrue and suggested he may be the victim of a sting in which he was deliberately drugged.
The MP said: “It is deeply troubling that a national newspaper should have paid individuals who acted in this way.
“I have referred these allegations to my solicitor.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn insisted it was a “private matter”, adding: “He hasn’t committed any crime that I know of.”
Labour MP Simon Danczuk, also hit by recent sex scandals, questioned whether Mr Vaz’s actions were illegal and urged compassion. He said: “He’s clearly been struggling with his sexuality.”