Keith Vaz’s passionate defence of disgraced Labour peer Lord Janner comes back to haunt him
Lord Janner died earlier this year after a huge controversy over whether he should face trial for 22 counts of sex offences against boys
KEITH VAZ’s passionate defence of disgraced Labour peer Greville Janner came back to haunt him yesterday as Westminster was sent reeling by the revelations.
Lord Janner died earlier this year after a huge controversy over whether he should face trial for an astonishing 22 counts of sex offences against boys.
Back in 1991, Keith Vaz shot to the defence of his Labour counterpart – who then served in a neighbouring Leicestershire constituency - when the claims first emerged.
He had been accused of child abuse during evidence heard at the trial of a former children’s home supervisor.
During a Commons debate at the time, Mr Vaz was key in helping sway public opinion, insisting Janner had been the “victim of a cowardly and wicked attack by people who simply did not care what damage they did to him”.
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Earlier this year the Labour MP led the fund-raising for Willy Bach, an old friend of Lord Janner, who was elected as Labour Police and Crime Commissioner in a shock victory this May.
Child abuse campaigner – the former England rugby star Brian Moore – said the links between Keith Vaz and Lord Janner ensured yesterday’s revelations were in the public interest.
He wrote on Twitter: “I’d normally say what Keith Vaz does privately is none of our concern but not given the committee positions he holds and his acts re Janner.”