Labour MP Keith Vaz taken to hospital after Commons watchdog recommended suspension

29 October 2019, 08:42

A Labour MP who "expressing a willingness" to buy cocaine for male escorts was taken to hospital hours after a report recommended him for suspension.

Mr Vaz was admitted for medical treatment, a statement on his website confirmed, but has not publicly revealed the reason why.

Yesterday the the veteran MP - who has served as the representative for Leicester East since 1987 - was recommended for a six-month suspension for breaching the Commons code.

He was exposed paying for sex by the Sunday Mirror on 27 August 2016, but has consistently denied the allegations.

It took three years for the Standards Commission to release a report into the scandal, and the commissioner slammed Mr Vaz and said he has " not 'co-operated at all stages' with the investigation process."

The report said that Mr Vaz "at various times" claimed that the media reports "bore no recollection to what actually happened", and then he had "no recollection about what actually happened."

It then went on to say that the meeting was orchestrated to "discuss interior design" and that his drink was spiked. The report read: "He[Vaz] has not 'co-operated at all stages' with the investigation process.

"He has failed, repeatedly, to answer direct questions; he has given incomplete answers and his account has, in parts, been incredible. "I do not believe he has given me or my predecessor a full and accurate account of the relevant events.

"It concludes that he breached section 16 House of Commons Code of Conduct, which states that: "Members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its Members generally"