Vaz faces sleaze probe
Home affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz faces investigation from parliament’s sleaze watchdog, it has been confirmed.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards told politics.co.uk a complaint had been received “in recent weeks” which suggested Mr Vaz “may have breached the code of conduct”.
As a result an inquiry will be initiated against Mr Vaz. The Office was unable to confirm details of the complaint or who made it.
The complaint solves a headache for the commissioner John Lyon, who had been considering whether to accept a complaint against Mr Vaz made by the man himself.
Mr Vaz had written to the commissioner referring to allegations made in newspaper articles about himself, leaving Mr Lyon uncertain about whether to accept the request.
Now another complaint has been received this problem no longer exists, the spokesperson explained, as further consideration is no longer “necessary”.
Earlier this month unconfirmed allegations surfaced that Mr Vaz had failed to declare his relationship with a solicitor when he stepped in to lobby on his behalf.
Mr Vaz’s office said it was preparing a response to the complaint.
