Indian origin, Keith Vaz quits Commons amid suspension row; Declares to stand down by elections

New Delhi, November 11: Serving a long tenure of 32 years since 1987 to the House of Commons, Keith Vaz on Monday announced his retirement as the Member of Parliament for Leicester East, amidst questions about his candidature for the December 12 election and his role in a drugs row.

 

Vaz, being of Goa origin, has been a prominent figure at the Indian community in the UK, besides forging links with leading politicians and others in India. “I have decided to retire after completing 32 years as the Member of Parliament for Leicester East. In that time I have won eight general elections. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve my constituency since I came to the city in 1985”, Vaz said.

 

 

“I want to thank the people of Leicester East for their absolute loyalty and support. Leicester and especially the people of Leicester East will always be in my heart", he added. This is after he faced suspension for six months after the Commons Standards Committee recently found that he had damaged the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons with his actions revealed in a British tabloid’s sting operation in 2016.

 

"He was a candidate from Leicester East for the December 12 election, but senior Labour leaders such as Diane Abott suggested that he step down voluntarily so that the controversy around him does not become a distraction during the election", the statement read.

 

Keith Vaz has made a substantial and significant contribution to public life, both as a constituency MP for the people of Leicester and for the Asian community across the country. Having helped to pave the way for more BAME (black and minority ethnic) people to become involved in politics, his work in Parliament has been exemplary.

 

A former minister for Europe (1999-2011) in the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair, has been involved in several controversies during his parliamentary career, but invariably bounced back to return to frontline politics. He was most recently chair of the influential Home Affairs Committee.