Lord Sewel will not face charges over drug allegations

Lord Sewel will not face charges over allegations of drug-related offences after police said there was “insufficient evidence to proceed” with their investigation.

The peer resigned from the House of Lords in July after the Sun on Sunday published footage of him allegedly taking cocaine with two prostitutes.

The case was referred to the Metropolitan Police by Baroness d’Souza, the Lords Speaker, who branded his behaviour “shocking and unacceptable”.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “The Metropolitan Police Service launched a criminal investigation into allegations of drug-related offences involving a member of the House of Lords on Monday, 27 July.

“The investigation, led by officers from the Special Enquiry Team of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, has now concluded.

“Following a review of all the material, including a forensic examination of an address in central London, there is insufficient evidence to proceed with this investigation and the matter is now closed.”

The former Labour minister first stepped down from his post as chairman of the Lords’ Privileges and Conduct Committee and then from the House of Lords altogether.

In a statement to parliamentary officials announcing his resignation, Lord Sewel, who stood for the Scottish Parliament in 1999, apologised for the “pain and embarrassment” he had caused.