Investigate Keith Vaz, urges Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen
Parliament's watchdog is being urged to investigate Keith Vaz after reports that large sums of "suspicious" cash were paid into the MP's bank accounts.
Yesterday, the Daily Telegraph published a story outlining details of a Scotland Yard probe into Mr Vaz's financial affairs.
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Leicester East MP Keith Vaz
The article said detectives discovered £500,000 was apparently deposited into the Labour Leicester East MP's accounts over a six-year period – in addition to his salary – between 1997 and 2001.
The report said a police document revealed officers could not establish the source of the cash but "the level of funds received... are of a suspicious nature".
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Tory North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen yesterday wrote to the parliamentary standards commissioner, who is responsible for investigating complaints about MPs who have allegedly breached the members' code of conduct.
He asked the commissioner, Sir John Lyon, to see whether Mr Vaz broke the rules by failing to declare outside interests.
Mr Vaz has denied having any outside interests and said the payments "were not suspicious in any way and relate to the sale of a family home in London".
Mr Bridgen told the Mercury the Telegraph story raised a number of questions the commissioner ought to investigate.
He said: "I am concerned that Mr Vaz may have breached parliamentary standards by not declaring an interest."
Mr Bridgen has also asked the commissioner to reopen his predecessor's investigation into the Hinduja Brothers affair.
Mr Vaz's relationship with the billionaire Indian businessmen, who were seeking British passports, was investigated by the standards commissioner in 2001 and 2002.
Following that investigation, Mr Vaz was given a month-long suspension from Parliament in 2002, for "serious breaches" of the MPs' code of conduct and contempt of the House.
Mr Bridgen wants the commissioner to investigate whether Mr Vaz lied during the original investigation.
He also called for Mr Vaz to step down from his role as Home Affairs Select Committee chairman should the commissioner begin an inquiry.
Mr Bridgen said: "Of course he is innocent until proven guilty, but if an investigation begins it would be appropriate for him to stand down given the role he has in holding the police to account."
The Leicester Mercury yesterday asked for an interview with Mr Vaz, who was in Manchester for the Labour Party conference, but he was unavailable.
He did issue a statement saying: "The Telegraph contacted me on Sunday about an investigation which may or may not have occurred 10 years ago. I asked them to supply me with a copy of the report but they did not have one.
"These matters relate to two Parliamentary inquires (sic) which began in 1999 and concluded in 2003.
"My finances were discussed by every newspaper in the country for three years and were the subject of extensive examination. I have had no outside interests.
"The Telegraph claims that the unnamed police officer states the payments into my account were suspicious. They were not suspicious. They relate to the sale of a family home in London, the purchase of a new family home and a drawdown of equity from my bank."
The Metropolitan Police said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on any individual historical financial investigations."
A spokesman for the office of the parliamentary standards commissioner said he would respond to Mr Bridgen's letter within five working days.
Comments
by Bob491
Saturday, October 06 2012, 9:47PM
“Obviously garyb2011 either now agrees with me about the greedy Bridgen or he is too busy organising more red arrows on my various contributions!”
by prog_rock_fan
Thursday, October 04 2012, 9:39PM
“@heisspartacus: ""do him in" - bit harsh prog. Try remove from office""
LOL! Trust me Spartacus- for a professional politician, removal from office and public humiliation are far, far worse than death.”
by Bob491
Thursday, October 04 2012, 8:33PM
“Seven times in the article it mentions the name of Bridgen, and yet garyb claims it is not about him. Amazing!
So why is Bridgen deliberately publicising something that is old hat, ten years old or more, that was dealt with at the time?
Why has Bridgen deliberately contacted the Leicester Mercury knowing as he would that any mention of the name Vaz would inevitably bring out in droves the attack dogs of the right wing Cons and English Defence League who salivate at any mention of someone with a skin colour different from their own?
As I said, one possibility is that he is trying to deflect attention away from his shameful paying himself more for a mere six hours cushy work than a 17 year old constituent could expect to earn for an entire year of full time hard work, and this on top of his MPs salary and generous expenses.
Another possibility is that he is trying to deflect attention away from the Con government's West Coast Rail franchise shambles.
Maybe he was trying to deflect attention away from Ed Miliband's great speech on Tuesday.
Or there again it might be to deflect attention away from the Con government's giving away hundreds of £millions of contracts to their Con party donors in private health care.
Either way, Bridgen spreading foul rumours without a shred of evidence is gutter politics at best.”
by heisspartacus
Thursday, October 04 2012, 6:37PM
“"do him in" - bit harsh prog. Try remove from office”
by prog_rock_fan
Thursday, October 04 2012, 4:54PM
“Labor... Liberal... Tory... who cares?
If he's dirty, do him in. If he's not, move on.”
by garyb2011
Thursday, October 04 2012, 3:30PM
“Bob
But is is a story about Vaz. Another story about VAz and his suspect finacial affairs. A story printed by the Daily Telegraph (who you will recall broke the MP expenses story so cannot be accused of only focussing on Labour)
You just want to turn it into a story about Bridgen. It is clear that you believe that the Government is responsible for all our ills but by ignoring anything that shows Labour up in a bad light only makes you look silly. Sadly, for you any reasonable criticism you might have of the Governement is lost in your rather infantile responses.”
by Bob491
Thursday, October 04 2012, 2:43PM
“The thread is not about Vaz as we all know.
It is about Bridgen trying to deflect attention away from unsavoury aspects of himself and his Con party.”
by 4_Stroke
Thursday, October 04 2012, 2:31PM
“Bob491.. Are you related to VAZ by any chance? You seem to be going to a lot of trouble to try and divert the thread away off topic which is….... "Parliament's watchdog is being urged to investigate Keith Vaz after reports that large sums of "suspicious" cash were paid into the MP's bank accounts."
It's not about the general standards of MPs who we all know for the most part have morals of sewer rats but it's about Vaz and his alleged dodgy dealings specifically.
Its not even about "glass houses" and "stone throwing" its about the possibility of the law being broken.”
by Bob491
Thursday, October 04 2012, 2:11PM
“Quote: "but hang on, he is very devious, he puts them in his families names"
I didn't realise the article was about the famously devious and dishonest Con party Chairman Grant Shapps, perhaps we should call him by his other name Michael Green, whose various websites (at least 19 I hear) he transferred to family members - his wife, 75 year old mother and sister - and which are so dodgy that Google have blacklisted them for breaching its rules on copyright infringement.”
by heisspartacus
Thursday, October 04 2012, 1:58PM
“by vanip
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 2:29PM
."hey people in the Leicester East have you heard about the peoples power no! then open this link lets not moan lets act we can do it remove him
http://tinyurl.com/ykuplnv"
.
Yes lets act. When are YOU going to start this, do it, do the stufff?
No, a keyboard warrior who keeps posting the same old thing, referrendum et al.
Get on and stop shouting about it, many will sign up”