Keith Vaz to hold crunch meeting with Home Affairs Select Committee members

credit - Parliament TV

Members of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee will meet Keith Vaz today to discuss whether the under fire Labour MP can remain as its chair.

The former minister for Europe faces a possible parliamentary investigation after it was alleged in the media that he paid for two male prostitutes.

A media report claimed that Vaz met with escorts on two occasions at a flat he owns near his main London home and offered to cover the cost of class A drugs.

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Vaz could face a vote of no confidence if he refuses to stand down as chair of the influential committee – which has been considering prostitution laws as part of its work.

A source apparently told the BBC it would be "far from reality” so suggest all members of the 11-strong committee want Mr Vaz to continue in his role.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said Mr Vaz's behaviour was a “private matter,” while Prime Minister Theresa May said politicians must command the confidence of voters.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has vowed to write to parliamentary standards commissioner Kathryn Hudson calling for a probe over possible conflicts of interest.

He said Mr Vaz was “not fit to be a member of parliament”.

Leicester East MP Vaz, who is also a member of Labour's National Executive Committee, on Sunday issued a statement saying he had referred the matter to his solicitors. 

"It is deeply disturbing that a national newspaper should have paid individuals to have acted in this way,” he said.

"I have referred these allegations to my solicitor Mark Stephens of Howard Kennedy who will consider them carefully and advise me accordingly."

He asked two questions in parliament yesterday, but is yet to comment further on the allegations.