Shamed Keith Vaz’s complaint that another MP had ruined his reputation over rent boy claims thrown out by sleaze watchdog
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner dismissed the Labour MP’s calls for an investigation into Andrew Bridgen
DISGRACED Keith Vaz has seen his complaint that another MP had been harming his reputation has been rejected by the sleaze watchdog.
The shamed Labour representative had asked the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to investigate his Tory rival Andrew Bridgen.
But a spokesman for Commissioner Kathryn Hudson said they will not pursue an inquiry – but it is still investigating Mr Vaz.
He quit the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee after it was revealed he allegedly paid male escorts for sex at his flat in London.
Mr Bridgen, who is the MP for the neighbouring seat in Leicestershire, reported him to Ms Hudson after the claims were published in the Sunday Mirror.
Mr Vaz retaliated by reporting Mr Bridgen – the latest development in a long-running feud between the pair.
He wrote to the Commons sleaze watchdog saying the complaint against him was outside Ms Hudson’s scope, saying it should be thrown out.
And he instead suggested she look into Mr Bridgen’s behaviour, as the Tory is an outspoken critic of him.
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But a spokeswoman confirmed: “She has considered the matter and made a decision not to open an inquiry.”
Meanwhile a formal probe is being made into Mr Vaz’s behaviour after claims he broke the MPs’ Code of Conduct.
The watchdog will also rule on whether the former Labour minister’s behaviour caused “significant damage” to the reputation of Parliament.
However, the Standards Commissioner’s inquiry has been suspended until the outcome of a police probe of the sordid affair.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen wrote to Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe about the matter.
Hidden camera footage also reportedly showed Mr Vaz discussing buying cocaine.
Mr Bridgen suggested he may have engaged in “conspiracy to supply a controlled substance”.
He also called for an investigation into possible misconduct in public office.
Scotland Yard’s Special Enquiry Team is running the probe into whether Mr Vaz, 59, broke the law and will “assess and identify” any crimes potentially committed.
The SET, whose detectives are hand-picked for their discretion, has been dubbed the “Celebrity Squad” after previous probes into Jeffrey Archer and Kate Moss.