Vaz was disgraced over a sex and drugs scandal with two male prostitutes
Detectives may still investigate claims he offered to buy the men cocaine
But 159 MPs backed his appointment to the influential Justice Committee
Move was instigated by whips so Labour do not block Tory appointments
By GERRI PEEV AND JASON GROVES FOR THE DAILY MAIL
Ten Cabinet ministers helped to elect disgraced Labour MP Keith Vaz to Parliament’s powerful justice committee.
In an extraordinary move, Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox joined seven other Cabinet ministers in helping to install Mr Vaz in the influential role just weeks after he was embroiled in a sex and drugs scandal.
Mr Vaz was nominated for the role by Labour, despite the fact detectives are still considering whether to investigate him over claims he offered to buy cocaine for two male prostitutes he had hired for an orgy.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen attempted to block the move by forcing a Commons vote, arguing that Mr Vaz was ‘not fit to be an MP, let alone a member of the justice committee’. But, Tory whips mounted an unofficial operation to ensure he got the job on the committee that oversees the work of the Justice Department. As a result, 159 Tory MPs backed Mr Vaz, in a back-room stitch up designed to prevent Labour MPs blocking Tory appointments in future. By contrast, only 38 Labour MPs were among the 42 other MPs who supported him, with even his MP sister Valerie staying away.
The Tory decision resulted in a string of ministers, including Chief Whip Gavin Williamson, trooping in to the Commons at 10pm on Monday to ensure Mr Vaz’s nomination went through. The whips’ cynical tactics provoked fury last night. Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames led the condemnation, saying: ‘I do not believe Keith Vaz should be a member of a select committee and particularly not the justice committee while he has a big cloud hanging over him. It makes a mockery of the system.’
Jeremy Hunt backed Vaz
In an extraordinary move, Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox joined seven other Cabinet ministers in helping to install Mr Vaz in the influential role on the Justice Committee
Mr Bridgen said he was furious about the vote. ‘I don’t buy the idea that if the Government did not whip the vote and back Vaz, then Labour would oppose our nominations and that it would throw the committee system into mayhem,’ he said.
‘I think Keith Vaz has got a police and a standards investigation hanging over him. To vote him onto the justice committee brings the system into severe disrepute. ’
In the Commons, Mr Bridgen was challenged by Labour’s David Hanson, who asked him ‘what right’ he had to ‘tell the Labour party who to put on our committees?’
Tory whips declined to comment on the operation. But a party source said that if they had allowed Mr Vaz to be blocked, then Labour would start vetoing Tory nominations.
Mr Vaz, a former Labour minister, was forced to resign as chairman of the Commons home affairs committee in September following newspaper revelations that he hired two male escorts at a time when the committee was investigating prostitution.
Claims that he offered to pay for cocaine for the pair are the subject of a complaint to both the police and the Commons standards watchdog.
He was recorded on tape arranging a 90-minute rendezvous with the two Eastern European prostitutes at a flat he owns near his £2million family home in London. The Leicester East MP discussed unprotected sex and asked them to bring the sex drug poppers, before saying: ‘We need to get this party started.’
Mr Vaz, a married father-of-two, could not be reached for comment last night. He previously apologised to his wife and children, but attacked the media for invading his privacy. He was not at Monday’s vote.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3895980/Why-DID-Tory-ministers-help-Vaz-land-justice-job-Amber-Rudd-Jeremy-Hunt-Liam-Fox-voted-elect-disgraced-MP-committee.html#ixzz4OqUg9noR
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Fury over top new Commons role for shamed MP Keith Vaz
22:56, 2 NOV 2016 UPDATED 22:56, 2 NOV 2016
BY BEN GLAZE
Vaz stood down as chairman of the Home Affairs committee in September after the Sunday Mirror revealed he paid two male escorts for sex
Shamed Keith Vaz is under mounting pressure after seizing a key Commons role – steering the wheels of justice.
The MP is still waiting to hear if police are to probe his offer to pay for cocaine which a male escort wanted to bring to a sex party .
But he leapt at the chance to sit on the Justice Select Committee, easily seeing off a bid to block him.
Mr Vaz stood down as chairman of the Home Affairs committee in September after the Sunday Mirror revealed he paid two escorts for sex – as his panel examined laws on prostitution.
GettyKeith VazHe leapt at the chance to sit on the Justice Select Committee
Sunday MirrorKeith Vaz Sunday Mirror front pageKeith Vaz stood down after the Sunday Mirror revealed he paid two escorts for sex
A probe by Westminster’s sleaze watchdog is on hold until police decide whether to launch their own investigation. Shadow Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said she had “sympathy” with claims the role was inappropriate.
Bid to block Keith Vaz from Justice Committee role fails as just 7 MPs vote against appointment
She said: “Had I been Keith, I don’t think I’d have offered myself up to that position.
“But the fact is you can’t really pick and choose – Keith is an MP, he is there to represent his constituents.
Members of Parliament gather in the House of CommonsMr Vaz stood down as chairman of the Home Affairs committee in September
“He needs to play a role in Parliament, and unless there are findings against him I think we have to let him make the decision.”
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen tried to derail the appointment but lost a Commons vote by 203 to seven.
Keith Vaz hid real identity from male escorts: 'My name's Jim and I sell washing machines'
He said: “I think this brings Parliament into disrepute. People will be bemused that anyone with that sort of cloud hanging over them could get on the Justice Committee.”
O VAZ PAGA PARA LHE IREM AO CU
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